Supplement Seal Check
What “third-party tested” really means, cited to the source.
Programs
| Program | Focus | Lookup |
|---|---|---|
| NSF Certified for Sport | Banned substances for athletes, plus label and contaminant checks | Look up on their site |
| USP Verified | Label accuracy, contaminants, dissolution, GMP for everyday supplements | Look up on their site |
| Informed Sport | Every batch tested for banned substances before release | Look up on their site |
| Informed Choice | Banned-substance screening with monthly blind retail testing | Look up on their site |
| BSCG Certified Drug Free | Every lot tested for banned and illicit drugs, plus label claims and GMP | Look up on their site |
| ConsumerLab (CL Seal) | Retail-sampled quality testing; a paid publisher, not a regulator | Look up on their site |
Guides
- What “third-party tested” actually means
- What FDA does (and doesn't) do: DSHEA explained
- How to verify a product on each registry
- How to read a certificate of analysis (COA)
- Heavy metals and lead in protein powder: what studies show
- FDA's interim reference levels for lead
- Supplements and drug-tested athletes
- Hidden drug ingredients in supplements
- What GMP means for supplements
- Who picks the sample? Retail vs. manufacturer-submitted testing
- A seal doesn't mean it's safe or right for you