The Informant

Q. Is it true that some supplements don’t meet their label claims?

A. Unfortunately, many supplements on the market don’t meet label claims. Too many companies are trying to make a quick buck by copying successful products with cheaper, lower quality ingredients. In principle, quality testing that ensures products meet label claims should be completed; however, it’s often skipped if a company is trying to cut costs. This brings up the question of who is responsible for testing quality. The responsibility of testing really depends on the contract or agreement made between a supplement company and its manufacturer. Testing should be spelled out clearly between both parties to avoid any finger pointing if issues do arise with the product. At the end of the day, quality testing must be performed to ensure the safety and efficacy of every product. You would hope that most companies want their supplements to meet label claims, assuming they’re confident that their products work and their customers will be repeat buyers. Unfortunately, the reality is that there are many bad apples in the industry that are looking for the quick score and cut corners at every stage, especially testing since it doesn’t come cheap. Product testing can vary in pricing from a few hundred dollars into the thousands depending on which ingredients are being tested and if purity was previously tested at the finished product or raw material stage. My advice is to stick with companies that identify that their products have been made in a GMP facility or can provide you with evidence that quality testing has been completed. It’s surprising what people will share if you ask!