SuppCo Launches Revolutionary Certification Program to Ensure Active Ingredients in Dietary Supplements
SuppCo, a leading company in the supplement industry, has introduced a groundbreaking certification program called TESTED by SuppCo. This initiative aims to address the long-standing issue of transparency and accountability in the supplement market, where consumers often struggle to make informed decisions. The program complements SuppCo's existing TrustScore system, which evaluates supplement quality, and builds upon previous testing efforts that revealed alarming discrepancies in product labels.
Addressing a Systemic Industry Issue
Steve Martocci, co-founder and CEO of SuppCo, shared his personal journey that led to the creation of TESTED. He expressed his frustration with the lack of reliable information about supplements, stating, 'SuppCo was born out of my own frustration trying to make informed decisions about supplements, and I quickly realized this wasn’t a personal challenge but a systemic failure of the industry.'
The TESTED certification is a significant step towards resolving the industry's transparency problem. It sets a clear, independent standard for brands to prove the accuracy of their active ingredients, ensuring consumers can trust what they purchase.
Partnerships and Initial Testing
TESTED by SuppCo is launching in collaboration with several reputable brands, including Momentous, Thorne, Metagenics, Gaia Herbs, and many more. The initial testing focused on popular supplements like creatine, NAD+, urolithin A, and berberine, revealing shocking results. Out of the 44 products tested, 22 contained only 0% to 3% of the listed active ingredients, indicating severe quality control issues.
Jordan Glenn, Head of Science at SuppCo, emphasized the importance of this certification, stating, 'TESTED tells you what’s actually in the bottle you buy off the shelf.' This certification complements the TrustScore feature, creating a comprehensive system to ensure product quality before it reaches the lab.
Closing the Loophole in Testing
SuppCo's innovative approach to certification involves purchasing products anonymously from retail shelves, simulating a consumer's experience. This method addresses a significant loophole in existing certifications, where manufacturer-submitted samples may not accurately represent the final product. By doing so, SuppCo ensures that the certification process is as close to real-world conditions as possible.
Industry Self-Policing and Transparency
SuppCo's mission is not unique; it joins forces with organizations like ConsumerLab, NSF International, and the United States Pharmacopeia in promoting supplement label accuracy. However, SuppCo's approach emphasizes the need for structural change in the industry. The company's testing results, including failures, are made public, allowing consumers to make informed choices.
Jeff Byers, CEO of Momentous, expressed the industry's need for transparency, stating, 'It’s easy for brands to talk about quality and boast big claims about their products, but it’s much harder to prove it.'
Addressing a Controversial Issue
The supplement industry is at a critical juncture, with rising consumer expectations and increasing regulatory scrutiny. Independent verification is becoming a standard expectation, and brands that fail to meet these standards risk falling behind. SuppCo's TESTED program is a bold step towards ensuring that supplement labels accurately reflect the products they claim to be.
As the industry evolves, SuppCo's certification program sets a new benchmark for transparency and accountability, inviting consumers to demand more from supplement brands.
