Is AG1 FDA certified? Separating Myth from Regulatory Fact

November 12, 2025 •

4 min read

Did you know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve or certify dietary supplements before they are sold to the public? This fact is the central issue for anyone asking, "Is AG1 FDA certified?" and highlights the important distinction between how drugs and supplements are regulated.

Quick Summary

The FDA does not certify AG1, as dietary supplements are not subject to pre-market approval. Instead, AG1 undergoes rigorous independent, third-party testing by organizations like NSF to verify purity, potency, and the absence of banned substances.

Key Points

FDA Does Not Certify Supplements: The FDA does not pre-approve dietary supplements like AG1 for safety or effectiveness before they are marketed, unlike pharmaceutical drugs.
Manufacturer is Responsible: Under the DSHEA act, the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring a supplement is safe and labeled correctly.
AG1 Uses Third-Party Testing: AG1 undergoes rigorous, independent testing by third-party organizations like NSF International to verify its quality.
NSF Certified for Sport®: AG1 holds the NSF Certified for Sport® certification, which ensures it is tested for over 280 banned substances and contaminants, and that label claims are accurate.
GMP-Compliant Manufacturing: AG1 is manufactured in facilities that are compliant with the FDA's Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
International Standards: The product is also manufactured in TGA-registered facilities in New Zealand, which adds an additional layer of quality oversight.
Consumer Due Diligence: Consumers are advised to look for independent third-party certifications like NSF's as a proxy for product reliability in the absence of direct FDA approval.

The Fundamental Difference Between FDA Drug and Supplement Regulation

Unlike pharmaceuticals, which must undergo a stringent FDA approval process for safety and efficacy before they can be legally marketed, dietary supplements are regulated differently under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. This law places the responsibility for ensuring a product is safe and accurately labeled on the manufacturer. The FDA can take action against a product after it hits the market if it is found to be unsafe, adulterated, or misbranded, but it does not provide an official stamp of approval or certification beforehand. Therefore, the direct answer to "Is AG1 FDA certified?" is no, because such certification does not exist for this product category. The FDA does, however, establish Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), which dietary supplement manufacturers must follow. AG1 specifically states it is manufactured in cGMP-compliant facilities, among other quality controls.

Third-Party Certification: The Gold Standard for AG1

Given the different regulatory landscape for supplements, reputable companies seek third-party certification to demonstrate their product's quality, purity, and safety. For AG1, this comes in the form of NSF Certified for Sport®, which is widely recognized as the gold standard in independent supplement testing.

What NSF Certified for Sport® Means

The NSF certification process for AG1 involves exhaustive testing and verification beyond standard regulatory requirements:

Testing for Banned Substances: AG1 is routinely tested for over 280 substances banned by major athletic organizations, including the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This provides assurance for competitive athletes concerned about drug testing.
Testing for Contaminants: Every batch is tested for harmful levels of heavy metals (like lead, mercury, and arsenic), pesticides, and other contaminants.
Label Claim Verification: The certification confirms that what is listed on the product label is actually present inside the product, in the quantities specified.
Manufacturing Facility Audits: NSF conducts yearly audits of the manufacturing facilities to ensure they are compliant with strict quality and safety standards.

Additional Quality Measures by AG1

Athletic Greens, the company behind AG1, also highlights other measures to ensure product quality and safety, including manufacturing in facilities that are registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in New Zealand. The TGA is an Australian government agency that regulates complementary medicines, and AG1 is produced under its standards. Every batch of AG1 is also accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis, which documents the results of third-party testing. This level of quality control, while not FDA certification, is a crucial indicator of a product's reliability.

AG1's Quality Assurance vs. General FDA Supplement Oversight


Feature	AG1's Quality Assurance	General FDA Supplement Regulation
Pre-Market Approval	No; relies on independent testing.	No; not required for dietary supplements.
Third-Party Certification	Yes; holds NSF Certified for Sport®, Cologne List®, and Informed Choice certifications.	No; not required by the FDA.
Facility Oversight	Manufactured in GMP-compliant, FDA-registered, and TGA-registered facilities.	Requires manufacturers to adhere to cGMP.
Label Accuracy	Verified by third-party testing organizations like NSF.	Relies on manufacturers to ensure accurate labeling; FDA can intervene post-market.
Contaminant Testing	Extensive testing for heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants by third parties.	Sets limits and can take action post-market if products are found to be unsafe.
Banned Substances	Tested for over 280 banned substances by third-party organizations.	Not a focus of general supplement regulation; overseen by anti-doping agencies.

What This Means for Consumers

For consumers, the absence of FDA certification does not mean the product is unsafe or unregulated. It simply reflects the regulatory framework for dietary supplements. AG1's commitment to independent third-party verification provides a higher level of assurance and transparency than some other products on the market. For athletes, the NSF Certified for Sport® label is particularly important as it guarantees the product is free from banned substances that could lead to disqualification. Ultimately, a well-informed consumer should look for products that go beyond minimum regulatory requirements by obtaining reputable third-party certifications like NSF Certified for Sport®. To learn more about the specifics of the NSF program, you can visit the NSF International website.

Conclusion

AG1 is not FDA certified, because the FDA does not provide such pre-market approval for dietary supplements. However, Athletic Greens proactively ensures product quality and safety through rigorous third-party testing by organizations like NSF International, earning the highly respected NSF Certified for Sport® seal. This certification, along with manufacturing in GMP-compliant facilities, serves as a transparent and reliable indicator of the product's safety and integrity, offering consumers an alternative form of assurance in a market not subject to direct FDA certification.

Final Takeaway

While the FDA oversees dietary supplement manufacturing and can intervene post-market, AG1's independent third-party certification from NSF provides an additional, robust layer of quality and safety verification that exceeds standard industry norms.

Frequently Asked Questions

The FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of rules than prescription drugs, according to the DSHEA of 1994. Under this act, supplements do not require pre-market approval from the FDA, and the responsibility for their safety and labeling rests with the manufacturer.

NSF Certified for Sport® is a rigorous third-party certification that verifies AG1 is tested for over 280 banned substances, contaminants like heavy metals, and ensures the label accurately reflects the product's ingredients. This provides a strong indicator of safety and quality.

Yes, while the FDA doesn't certify AG1, the product is manufactured in facilities that comply with the FDA's Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). These regulations establish quality control standards for production, packaging, and labeling.

The NSF Certified for Sport® seal on AG1 packaging is a reliable way to ensure it's been tested for banned substances. This independent program is specifically designed to provide assurance to athletes and consumers that products are free of prohibited substances.

Under the DSHEA act, Athletic Greens, the manufacturer of AG1, is legally responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of its product before it is marketed. The company also maintains additional quality controls, including extensive third-party testing.

In addition to NSF Certified for Sport®, AG1 is also certified by Informed Choice and listed on the Cologne List®. These independent programs further test for banned substances and verify quality.

Yes. While not involved in pre-market approval, the FDA has the authority to take regulatory action against a dietary supplement after it is marketed if it is found to be adulterated or misbranded. This includes inspecting manufacturing facilities and monitoring adverse event reports.