Understanding and Finding: Which supplement companies do third party testing?

October 8, 2025 •

3 min read

According to one report, an analysis of 160 protein powders from leading brands revealed concerning levels of toxins and contaminants not disclosed on their labels, highlighting the importance of third-party verification. For health-conscious consumers and athletes, knowing which supplement companies do third party testing? is a critical step in ensuring product safety, purity, and potency.

Quick Summary

Third-party testing involves an independent organization verifying a supplement's contents, potency, and purity. This provides unbiased assurance for consumers in an unregulated industry, certifying that products are free from contaminants, banned substances, and contain ingredients as labeled. Reputable certification bodies include USP, NSF, Informed-Sport, Labdoor, and BSCG.

Key Points

Third-Party Testing Verification: Independent labs check a supplement's contents, potency, and purity, providing an unbiased assurance of quality and safety beyond manufacturer claims.
Limited FDA Oversight: Unlike pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements are not subject to pre-market FDA approval, making third-party testing a critical consumer safeguard against mislabeled or contaminated products.
Key Certification Bodies: Reputable third-party certification organizations include USP, NSF International, Informed-Sport/Informed-Choice, Labdoor, and the Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG).
How to Spot Certified Products: Look for certification seals on a product's label and verify the lot number on the certifying body's website to ensure authenticity.
Notable Third-Party Tested Brands: Companies such as Thorne, Nature Made, Transparent Labs, NOW Foods, and Garden of Life are known for their commitment to third-party testing.
Not All Tests Are Equal: Different certification bodies test for different things, ranging from general purity to specific substances banned in professional sports, so it's important to know what each seal represents.

What is Third-Party Testing and Why Does it Matter?

Third-party testing is the process by which an independent organization evaluates a dietary supplement to confirm that it meets specific standards for quality, safety, and label accuracy. Unlike pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements are not subject to pre-market approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that the manufacturer is primarily responsible for the safety and labeling of their products. Without independent verification, a product could be mislabeled, contaminated, or contain inaccurate dosages, posing potential health risks. Third-party certification mitigates these risks by providing an unbiased check on the product's integrity and quality.

For consumers, opting for products verified by a reputable third party provides confidence that the supplement contains what is advertised, is free from harmful contaminants, and was manufactured according to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).

Major Third-Party Certification Bodies

Several prominent organizations offer third-party testing and certification for dietary supplements, with varying scopes of testing. Some focus on general supplements, while others specialize in sports nutrition.

United States Pharmacopeia (USP): A non-profit setting quality standards. Their USP Verified mark ensures ingredients match the label, there are no harmful contaminants, proper breakdown in the body, and cGMP compliance.
NSF International: A global, independent certifier. The NSF seal confirms label claims, screens for contaminants, and reviews formulation. NSF Certified for Sport® is more stringent, testing for over 280 athletic banned substances.
Informed-Sport / Informed-Choice: Part of LGC, these certifications test for banned substances. Informed-Sport includes monthly blind testing of products, important for athletes.
Labdoor: Tests supplements purchased from retailers and provides unbiased ratings and detailed reports online, with certifications like Tested for Accuracy & Purity.
Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG): Offers certifications such as Certified Drug Free®, testing for a wide range of banned substances including those in sport, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs.

Supplement Companies That Use Third-Party Testing

Numerous reputable brands demonstrate a commitment to third-party testing. While some feature certification seals, others offer Certificates of Analysis (COA) for transparency.

Examples of brands known for third-party testing include:

Thorne Research: Uses NSF Certified for Sport®.
Nature Made: Many products are USP verified.
Transparent Labs: Provides COAs and uses Informed-Choice.
NOW Foods: Features in-house labs and uses Informed-Sport for sports nutrition products.
Pure Encapsulations: Trusted for quality and third-party testing.
Garden of Life: Offers NSF certified products.
Ritual: Transparent about testing protocols.
Nordic Naturals: Utilizes third-party testing for omega-3s.
Klean Athlete: Many products are NSF Certified for Sport®.
Momentous: Certified by Informed Sport and NSF Certified for Sport.

How to Verify a Third-Party Tested Supplement

It's important to verify certifications beyond just seeing a logo. Certification bodies provide online resources for this purpose.

Check the label: Look for seals from recognized bodies.
Verify online: Use the certifier's website and database to confirm the product's status with the lot number.
Look for COAs: Check the manufacturer's website for a Certificate of Analysis.

Comparison of Major Third-Party Certifications


Certification	Primary Focus	Tested For	Recommended For	How to Verify
USP Verified	Purity, potency, manufacturing practices	Ingredients match label, absence of harmful contaminants, proper product release	General consumers seeking quality assurance	`quality-supplements.org`
NSF Certified for Sport®	Banned substances, contaminants, label accuracy	Over 280 banned athletic substances, heavy metals, pesticides, label claims	Professional athletes, drug-tested individuals	`nsfsport.com/certified-products`
Informed-Sport	Banned substances, manufacturing review	Over 250 prohibited substances, manufacturing controls, monthly blind testing	Competitive athletes, trusted for global anti-doping	`sport.wetestyoutrust.com`
Labdoor	Purity, label accuracy, contaminants	Ingredient accuracy, heavy metals, contaminants, potency	Consumers interested in unbiased product ratings and detailed reports	`labdoor.com`
BSCG Certified Drug Free®	Banned substance screening	Comprehensive drug-free assurance, banned substances, other contaminants	Drug-tested athletes, broader anti-doping needs	`bscg.org`

Conclusion

Choosing supplements from companies that use third-party testing is crucial for ensuring product safety and quality in a largely unregulated market. While it doesn't guarantee effectiveness, certification from organizations like USP, NSF, or Informed-Sport provides vital transparency and safety. Verifying these seals online helps consumers make informed choices and encourages higher standards in the supplement industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Third-party testing is important because it independently verifies a supplement's quality, potency, and purity. Since supplements are not approved by the FDA before they are sold, this process helps ensure products are free from harmful contaminants, accurately labeled, and made according to high standards, protecting consumers from potential health risks.

You can tell if a supplement is third-party tested by looking for certification seals on the product label from reputable organizations such as USP, NSF, or Informed-Sport. You should then verify the product's lot number against the certification body's online database to ensure the certification is legitimate.

USP certification verifies that a supplement contains the ingredients and amounts listed, is free of harmful contaminants, and was made under cGMP. NSF certification confirms label claims and screens for contaminants. The NSF Certified for Sport® is a more rigorous option that specifically tests for banned substances, which is vital for athletes.

No, third-party testing does not guarantee a supplement's effectiveness. It primarily verifies product quality, purity, and potency, confirming that what's on the label is in the bottle. Evidence of a product's effectiveness for a specific purpose must be evaluated separately through scientific research.

Yes, third-party tested supplements are recommended for everyone, not just athletes. The testing process ensures that the product is pure, accurately labeled, and free from harmful contaminants, which is a critical safety measure for any consumer.

While a company's in-house testing is a step towards quality control, it can be biased. Independent, third-party testing eliminates conflicts of interest and provides an unbiased, credible evaluation of the product. For maximum assurance, opt for products with independent third-party verification.

Most certifying organizations maintain a public, searchable database on their website. For example, USP lists certified products at Quality-Supplements.org, and NSF provides a database on nsfsport.com for Certified for Sport products.