How to choose a multivitamin (part III)

How to choose a multivitamin (part III) - Other rating systems 

How do you know if a supplement contains what it is supposed to contain and is not contaminated? Do the products come with a potency guarantee? Have they been tested by NSF International? 

NSF is an independent, not-for-profit organization that helps protect consumers by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, and consumer goods. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration requires supplement manufactures to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for dietary supplements. However, how many manufacturers follow the more stringent GMP for pharmaceuticals as the basis for its quality assurance program, which regulates virtually every aspect of manufacturing, including facility design and maintenance, raw material specification and control, supplier validation, product design and testing, and more? The adherence to GMP is voluntary for companies producing multivitamins, but mandatory for pharmaceuticals. Check whether or not the company from which you are buying your multivitamins is part of this program.

In addition, verify if the company has acquired Drug Establishment Registration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This means the company operates an FDA-registered facility, following the FDA’s highest possible standard for manufacturers.

There are other testing organizations such as Consumer Labs. They are like the Consumer Reports for nutritional supplements. They are an independent third party organization who will certify whether a product passes or fails in its claims. Access to their ratings is by subscription, which I have done. They also discuss the clinical evidence for all types of nutritional supplements and sections are updated regularly as new evidence comes to light.

Read also: How to choose a multivitamin (part II)

Give preference to "Nutritionals you can trust".