A recent report revealed that about 800 out of 3,000 tested samples of popular herbal supplements, such as ginkgo and echinacea, were either adulterated or mislabeled. Be ready to guide patients in choosing high-quality dietary supplements.
Many different organizations offer quality certification programs for supplement manufacturers – this number is on the rise as marketplaces ramp up seller requirements. One of the major components of any certification program is ensuring products are developed in facilities that comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) regulations.
Be aware of differences in how this is evaluated. Some programs only require a paper review of GMP compliance, while others actually conduct an on-site audit to check that facilities are truly GMP compliant. USP, NSF: Contents Certified, NSF: Certified for Sport, and Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG) Certified GMP are among those that require on-site audits.
Testing the finished product is also key. Some programs only require the manufacturer to complete a self-test, while others conduct random spot checks of off-the-shelf products. USP, NSF: Contents Certified, and ConsumerLab conduct annual off-the-shelf testing NSF: Certified for Sport goes one step further and also tests for drugs or banned ingredients, which may be useful for athletes and military personnel.
Testing botanical products remains a challenge. There are natural inconsistencies in these ingredients. For example, small differences in time of year, weather, or crop location can impact the chemical makeup of a botanical ingredient, which can alter safety and effectiveness. Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) standards from various organizations can be used as a benchmark for determining quality sourcing of botanical ingredients. Products certified by Empowered By Evidence (EBE) are checked annually for GACP compliance.
As new third-party certifiers continue to pop up, encourage patients to review what these organizations evaluate and how they do it – ideally, look for products certified with off-the-shelf testing and confirmed GMP compliance. Review our Quality Certification chart for more details.
The information in this brief report is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions. Copyright © 2025 NatMed. Commercial distribution or reproduction prohibited. NatMed is the leading provider of high-quality, evidence-based, clinically-relevant information on natural medicine, dietary supplements, herbs, vitamins, minerals, functional foods, diets, complementary practices, CAM modalities, exercises and medical conditions. Monograph sections include interactions with herbs, drugs, foods and labs, contraindications, depletions, dosing, toxicology, adverse effects, pregnancy and lactation data, synonyms, safety and effectiveness.
