Third-party testing to safeguard supplement quality and our health … what to look for?
Truth Full HealthI take supplements – our headline product, EVYLO – routinely.
Supplements can play a helpful role in supporting our overall health and well-being.
Because the supplement market is so large – more than 100,000 products in the U.S. alone –it helps to understand both the potential benefits and the limits.
Knowing what matters most keeps us from feeling overwhelmed by so many choices.
By following a few simple rules, we can narrow down our options quickly and save our precious time for what really matters – whether that’s traveling, spending time with family members, or simply enjoying life.
One key rule is this: buy supplements that are thoroughly tested by a trusted third-party organization.
Let’s look at why that matters — starting with a few common myths.
Table 1. Common Myths About Supplement Safety and Quality
| Myth | Facts | Data |
|---|---|---|
| “It’s not a drug, so there’s no side effects.” |
Not all supplement ingredients have been well studied for safety. That doesn’t mean they’re unsafe — but it doesn’t mean they’re risk-free either. |
Around 23,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency room (ER) each year because of supplement-related problems.[1] By comparison, millions of ER visits happen each year due to medicines.[2] |
| “Natural means safe.” |
People once relied on herbs and natural foods to stay healthy, but that didn’t automatically make life longer or better. |
In 1900, average life expectancy in the U.S. was 33–49 years, depending on race and gender.[3] Today it’s about 78 years.[4] Modern health care and science play a big role in that improvement. |
| “Everything on a supplement label is 100% accurate.” |
While many brands are trustworthy, studies show a portion of products don’t match their labels. Some may have too little or too much of an ingredient — or even include banned or undeclared substances. |
Research shows only 5–43% of supplements are labeled accurately[5],[6],[7] About 14–50% of supplements may contain banned or unexpected ingredients.[8] Only 4–12% of supplements carry credible third-party quality certifications[9],[10] — among the most trusted standards for supplement quality.[11] |
Why Supplement Quality Matters
Let’s see how poor quality can affect consumers.
Table 2. How Quality Issues Can Affect Us
| Situation | Possible risk to consumers | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actual amount | Higher than label |
Can raise the risk of side effects or long-term harm. |
A bodybuilder who took high doses of vitamin A over time experienced liver damage[12] |
| Actual amount | Lower than label |
May not support health as expected — and that can feel like wasted money. Sometimes, free lifestyle changes like moving more, eating well, and getting enough rest can make a bigger difference. |
No studies were found, as it would be unethical to knowingly give participants supplements that contain less than what the label claims. |
| Contaminants or banned substances* | Above safe limits |
Increased risk of side effects and possible long-term health harm. |
The stimulant DMHA (dimethylhexylamine) has been linked to heart-related risks.[13] |
| Contaminants or banned substances* | At safe levels or not detected |
This is ideal. It means the product meets high quality standards. |
Supplements tested and certified by trusted third-party organizations. |
*Contaminants can include germs, mold, heavy metals, undeclared drugs, allergens, or other unwanted chemicals.
This is why rigorous testing is essential for quality and safety.*
*Note: Here, “safety” refers to making sure the supplement is accurately labeled and free from harmful contaminants — not to human studies on the supplement’s health effects.
Why “Third-party” Testing Matters
“First-party testing” is done by the company that makes or sells the supplement.
Third-party testing, on the other hand, is done by independent, accredited laboratories that have no connections to the manufacturer.
That independence removes bias and builds trust.
To help safeguard our health, look for supplements that have been tested by a trusted third-party using standard, validated methods.
Two Main Types of Third-party Verification
1. Third-party certifications (through testing).
This is the gold standard for most consumers.
We’ve previously discussed different third-party certification programs in an earlier post, which you can explore for more details here.
Certifications such as the USP Verified Mark or NSF Contents Certified Mark show that the supplement contains what the label says and doesn’t contain unwanted contaminants.
However, many certifications do not test for banned or unsafe substances.
Look for BSCG Certified Drug Free or NSF Certified for Sports marks to verify that banned substances are below detectable or safe limits.
2. Third-party testing without formal certifications, where test results are available and clearly explained.
This is the next best option.
However, there’s a lot of variation in how third-party testing is done – and that can affect our health or daily life (see Table 3).
Because of this, it puts the responsibility on consumers like us to figure out what kind of testing was actually done.
If you choose these products, check that the testing covers at least these three areas:
- Identity: Ingredients are correctly identified.
- Potency or strength: Amounts match declared values.
- Purity or contaminants: Levels of heavy metals, microbes, pesticides, solvents or other prohibited or unsafe substances are kept below established safe limits.
Table 3. How Third-party Testing Can Differ in What It Covers
|
Ingredient(s) |
Identity |
Potency or strength |
Purity or contaminants |
Example Scenario |
|
Berberine |
✔️ |
❌ |
✔️ |
May contain too little berberine[14], reducing or nullifying its intended effect |
|
Red yeast rice |
✔️ |
✔️ |
❌ |
Could contain the drug lovastatin or the toxin citrinin[15] |
The phrase “third-party tested” by itself doesn’t mean much unless you can see who did the testing, what was tested, and how results are explained.
That’s why certifications can be a quicker, easier way for consumers to confirm quality.
Final Words
With so many supplements available, third-party testing is one of the best ways to help protect your health and ensure you get what you pay for.
At Truth Full Health, we test quality at every step – from raw ingredients to finished product.
- We start by reviewing our ingredient suppliers’ testing reports, known as Certificates of Analysis (CoAs), to confirm that each ingredient’s identity, potency, and purity meet our standards.
- After manufacturing, our facilities test each batch in-house to confirm consistent quality.
- Finally, we send the finished product for two separate, third-party certifications:
- NSF Contents Certified Mark
- BSCG Certified Drug Free
These certifications help make sure what’s on the label is in the bottle — and nothing else.
From raw ingredients to final testing, we do everything we can to offer the cleanest, highest-quality supplements possible.
We believe in transparency.
On our Testing & Certification page, we share testing results and simple explanations so consumers can understand exactly what they’re getting.
In our mind, disclosing the results is important for transparency – even for products that go through third-party certifications.
To keep things clear and useful, we focus on sharing the most important information — such as the testing results of our finished products — rather than overwhelming readers with every data point.
If you’d like more details, please contact us — we’re always happy to share information.
Wishing all supplement users a healthy and informed journey ahead!
Sincerely,
Derek Tang, PhD, MS, BSPharm
Truth Full Health
Your Trusted Supplement Partner
*Disclaimer: all blogged content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.
[1] Title: Emergency department visits for adverse events related to dietary supplements. First author: N Shehab. Journal: New England Journal of Medicine. Year of publication: 2015.
[2] Title: US Emergency Department Visits Attributed to Medication Harms, 2017-2019. First author: DS Budnitz. Journal: JAMA. Year of publication: 2021
[3] SeniorLiving.org. 1900-2000: changes in life expectancy in the United States. November 21, 2025. Accessed April 5, 2026. https://www.seniorliving.org/history/1900-2000-changes-life-expectancy-united-states/
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Life expectancy. Last reviewed February 5, 2026. Accessed April 5, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/life-expectancy.htm
[5] Title: Analysis of Select Dietary Supplement Products Marketed to Support or Boost the Immune System.
First author: C Crawford. Journal: JAMA Network Open. Year of publication: 2022.
[6] Title: Resveratrol Food Supplement Products and the Challenges of Accurate Label Information to Ensure Food Safety for Consumers. First author: M Bensa. Journal: Nutrients. Year of publication: 2023.
[7] Title: Label Accuracy of Weight Loss Dietary Supplements Marketed Online With Military Discounts. First author: C Crawford. Journal: JAMA Network Open. Year of publication: 2024
[8] Title: Prevalence of adulteration in dietary supplements and recommendations for safe supplement practices in sport. First author: AR Jagim. Journal: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. Year of publication: 2023.
[9] Title: Third-Party Evaluation: A Review of Dietary Supplements Dispensed by Military Treatment Facilities From 2007 to 2011. First author: DR Jones. Journal: Military Medicine. Year of publication: 2015.
[10] Title: Third-Party Certification of Dietary Supplements: Prevalence and Concerns. First author: A Cancio. Journal: Military Medicine. Year of publication: 2012.
[11] The quality of a supplement means it has the right ingredients, in the right amounts, and is free from harmful contaminants.
[12] Title: Vitamin A Toxicity in a Physical Culturist Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. First author: G Castaño. Journal: Annals of Hepatology. Year of publication: 2006.
[13] Operation Supplement Safety. DMHA (octodrine) in dietary supplement products. Updated March 7, 2022. Accessed April 5, 2026. https://www.opss.org/article/dmha-octodrine-dietary-supplement-products
[14] Nutritional Outlook. NOW testing reveals poor quality of berberine products sold on Amazon and Walmart.com. January 9, 2024. Accessed April 5, 2026. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/now-testing-reveals-poor-quality-of-berberine-products-sold-on-amazon-and-walmart-com
[15] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Red yeast rice. Last updated November 2022. Accessed April 5, 2026. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/red-yeast-rice