What does “Third-Party Tested” Mean?

Nowadays, people around the globe use supplements for various reasons. Some use them to boost their energy, improve sleep, strengthen their immune system, and support overall health. If you have ever tried to read the labels on the back of the bottle, you might read a phrase that says ‘third-party tested’ and wonder what it means.

Third-party testing means that the supplement company hires an independent organization with no ties to the manufacturer to evaluate the product.

This independent organization shouldn’t have any benefit whether the supplement sells or not. Their job is just to analyze the product, assess its content, and confirm whether it meets the standard quality and safety.

What’s Actually Tested

Depending on the certifying bodies, different qualities of the product are tested by a third party. For instance, most third-party programs cover these key areas:

Purity

Checking the purity of the product means checking if the supplement contains unwanted contaminants such as heavy metals (like lead, mercury, and arsenic), pesticides or herbicides, harmful microbes such as bacteria, fungi, mold, or toxins, excessive or undeclared fillers and additives, or undeclared drugs such as steroids, stimulants, or weight loss medications that can be added to make the product work faster.

Accuracy of Labeling

The ingredients and amounts listed on the product label should be exactly what is inside the bottle.

Problems with labeling include wrong or hidden ingredients and too little or too much dose. That is why checking the accuracy of labeling is important and has become one of the main components of third-party checking.

Potency

Potency refers to the strength or concentration of the active ingredient in a supplement; dosage is the amount needed to have its intended effect. In other words, potency answers the question, ‘Does the pill contain enough ingredients to actually do what it’s supposed to do?’

Stability and Shelf Life

Some programs check whether the supplement remains stable and effective until its expiration date.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) are rules and standards that manufacturers must follow to ensure supplements are made consistently, safely, and with quality control at every step. Certain third-party seals also verify that. They cover everything from the raw ingredients to the finished bottle in the store.

GMP assessment includes the quality of raw materials, the cleanness of the facilities, whether equipment is maintained, whether staff are well trained, assessing the production process, testing, and quality. GMP also helps to easily track and remove a bad batch if something goes wrong.

Who Does the Testing?

Not all third-party seals are created equal. Some are more rigorous and trustworthy than others. Here are some of the most respected third-party organizations out there:

• NSF International
• U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)
• ConsumerLab.com
• Informed-Choice / Informed-Sport

Common Misconceptions about Third-Party Testing

While third-party testing is valuable in ensuring safety, it’s important to clear up a few misconceptions people may have:

Third-party testing doesn’t guarantee safety for everyone.

Some supplements are safe for most people, especially after third-party testing, but they may still cause side effects or interactions with the medication you are taking. Third-party testing won’t warn you if a supplement is unsafe with your medication.

Not every good supplement has a seal.

Some companies may not go through third-party testing for different reasons. Testing costs money, and some smaller but reputable companies may not pay for certification. This doesn’t always mean the product is bad.

Read more about third-party testing here.