Are Target brand vitamins third party tested?

October 9, 2025 •

5 min read

While the FDA doesn't regulate dietary supplements for efficacy before they hit the market, Target requires its Up & Up brand vendors to use third-party testing labs to ensure product quality and safety. This critical step helps address the inconsistencies found in the supplement industry, where past investigations have revealed issues with mislabeling. For consumers wondering, "Are Target brand vitamins third party tested?", the answer is yes, but understanding the details is key.

Quick Summary

Target's corporate policy mandates third-party testing for its Up & Up brand vitamins to confirm purity, potency, and label accuracy. Consumers should still look for independent certification seals from organizations like USP or NSF for extra assurance, as corporate policies and specific certifications offer different layers of oversight.

Key Points

Target Mandates Third-Party Testing: Target's corporate policy requires that vendors for its Up & Up brand vitamins use independent, third-party testing laboratories to ensure product safety and quality before shipment.
Policy Differs from Public Certification: Target's internal vendor testing policy should not be confused with a public third-party certification seal from organizations like USP or NSF, which are voluntary and publicly displayed.
Past Issues Prompted Action: A 2015 investigation revealed mislabeling in some Target brand herbal supplements, leading to the company reinforcing its quality control measures.
Look for Independent Seals: For the highest level of consumer confidence and transparency, look for a specific, recognized seal from an independent certifying body (like USP, NSF, or Informed-Choice) on the product packaging.
"Target Clean" Provides More Assurance: Some vitamins carry the "Target Clean" label, and for supplements, this often means they have been independently certified by a third party like NSF or USP.
Not All Supplements Are Equal: The level of testing can vary, even among store brands. A corporate policy is a good baseline, but specific certification from a third-party organization offers a greater guarantee of purity and potency.

Target's Corporate Policy on Third-Party Testing

According to Target's corporate website, the company has a clear policy regarding the safety and quality of its owned brands. For its private-label products, including the Up & Up line of vitamins, Target requires its vendors to engage third-party testing labs. This means an independent, accredited laboratory tests the vitamins to verify that they contain the ingredients listed on the label and meet internal safety and quality standards before being approved for shipment.

This robust corporate policy is an important step toward ensuring consumer safety, but it's different from obtaining public third-party certifications. While Target enforces its own testing, the results are part of their internal quality control and not typically displayed publicly with the seal of a specific certifying body on each bottle, unless they also pursue such certification.

What Happened in the 2015 Herbal Supplement Investigation?

It's important to put Target's current policy in context by looking at past industry issues. In 2015, an investigation by the New York State Attorney General's Office found that several major retailers, including Target, were selling store-brand herbal supplements that were mislabeled. Specifically, some Up & Up brand herbal supplements were found to contain ingredients not listed on the label or lacked the labeled substance. The investigation highlighted the need for stricter quality control in the supplement industry, especially for house brands.

In response, Target cooperated with the investigation and removed the products in question. This incident, along with similar findings across the industry, underscores why internal vendor testing is important, but why savvy consumers might still seek products with recognized, public third-party certification seals for an added layer of assurance.

Understanding Different Levels of Assurance

When buying supplements, consumers encounter different forms of quality assurance. It's crucial to understand the distinction between a corporate policy and an independent, public certification.

Corporate Mandated Third-Party Testing: This is Target's policy. It means the company requires its vendors to test products via third-party labs to meet internal standards. The tests confirm safety and label accuracy for Target's own purposes. While this is a strong measure, the results are typically private and not verified by an external certifying body for public display.
Independent Third-Party Certification: This is an optional, voluntary process where a supplement company submits its products to an independent, non-profit organization for verification. If the product passes stringent testing, it can display the certification seal (like USP, NSF, or Informed Choice) on its packaging. These public certifications offer greater transparency for consumers.

Reputable Third-Party Certifiers for Supplements

Several well-known organizations provide independent certification for dietary supplements. Looking for their seals can give you confidence in a product's quality.

USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia): This non-profit organization sets public standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines and food ingredients. A USP Verified Mark indicates the supplement contains the ingredients listed on the label in the declared potency and is free of harmful contaminants.
NSF International: A global organization that writes standards and certifies products. NSF's certification for supplements confirms that the product contains what is on the label and is free of harmful levels of contaminants like heavy metals and banned substances. The NSF Certified for Sport seal is a more rigorous version.
Informed-Choice: This is a supplement testing program that tests for substances banned in sports. Athletes and consumers concerned about banned substances often look for this certification.

The "Target Clean" Standard

For some vitamins and supplements, Target also uses its proprietary "Target Clean" label. This indicates the product is formulated without a specific list of ingredients and, for certain items, is also independently certified by a third party like NSF, USP, or Informed Choice. Shoppers should check product details carefully to see if a specific third-party certification is listed alongside the Clean seal.

Comparison of Quality Assurance Practices

To better understand the differences between the quality assurance offered by Target's corporate policy and an independent public certification, here is a comparison:


Feature	Target's Internal Vendor Testing Policy	Public Third-Party Certification (e.g., USP, NSF)
Verification	A third-party lab verifies products for Target's internal standards.	An independent, non-profit organization publicly verifies specific products.
Transparency	The results of testing are internal and confidential.	The certifying body's seal is displayed on the product label, and results are often public.
Scope of Testing	Verifies ingredients and quality to meet Target's internal requirements.	Tests for potency, purity, label accuracy, and contaminants according to the certifier's strict standards.
Cost	Part of the cost of manufacturing and supplying products for Target.	An additional voluntary investment by the supplement company to build consumer trust.
What to Look For	Corporate policy is enforced, but no public seal is guaranteed.	Look for seals like USP Verified or NSF on the product packaging.

Conclusion: How to Shop for Quality Vitamins at Target

Are Target brand vitamins third party tested? Yes, Target's corporate policy requires that its Up & Up brand vendors use third-party labs to test their products for quality and safety before they are sold. This is a significant corporate standard that addresses potential issues like those identified in past investigations. However, this is not the same as having a public, independent certification seal from an organization like USP or NSF.

For consumers seeking the highest level of assurance, the best approach is to examine the product packaging closely. While a product being from the Up & Up line suggests it has gone through Target's internal quality assurance, looking for a seal from an independent certifying body provides an additional layer of verification and transparency. By understanding the difference between corporate-mandated testing and voluntary public certification, you can make a more informed decision about your vitamin purchases.

Summary of Key Takeaways

Target's corporate policy requires that vendors for its Up & Up brand use third-party testing labs to verify product quality and safety.
This internal requirement is different from displaying a voluntary public certification seal, such as those from USP or NSF.
A 2015 investigation revealed issues with mislabeled herbal supplements from Target, prompting stricter internal controls.
To gain the highest level of consumer assurance, look for specific seals from organizations like USP Verified or NSF on the product label.
Some Target vitamins fall under the "Target Clean" standard, which may include independent certification, but it's important to check the individual product details.
Reputable third-party organizations like USP, NSF, and Informed-Choice offer certifications that independently verify a supplement's contents and purity.
Ultimately, a discerning shopper will look for both a reputable brand (like Up & Up backed by corporate policy) and an independent certification seal for optimal confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Target’s quality assurance is a robust internal policy requiring vendors to use third-party labs. However, it does not replace voluntary public certification programs like USP or NSF, which provide external verification and often more comprehensive testing for contaminants.

A corporate third-party test is performed for Target’s internal purposes and quality control, with results kept private. A USP Verified seal, however, is a public mark that indicates a non-profit organization has independently verified the product's identity, potency, purity, and manufacturing process.

To check for independent third-party certification, you need to look for specific certification seals from organizations like USP, NSF, or Informed-Choice directly on the product label. The presence of these seals indicates that the product has undergone additional, voluntary testing beyond Target's requirements.

Yes, in a 2015 investigation by the New York State Attorney General, some Up & Up brand herbal supplements were found to be mislabeled. In response, Target cooperated and removed the specific products from its shelves.

For vitamins and supplements, the "Target Clean" label specifies that the product is made without certain undesirable ingredients and may also require third-party certification by organizations like NSF, USP, or Informed Choice. Always check the specific product's description for details.

Public third-party certification is a voluntary and often costly process. While it offers greater transparency and consumer trust, some companies may rely solely on internal quality control and FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep costs down and streamline production.

Beyond certifications, indicators of quality include adherence to FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), transparent ingredient sourcing, positive consumer reviews, and clear labeling that avoids sensational or misleading claims.