Supplement Purchase Guidelines

Dietary supplements are not regulated in the same way as prescription medications, and label claims do not always tell the full story. To lower risk, SAAC’s minimum standard is to choose products that carry a reputable third-party certification mark or a similar independent verification process.

Third-party testing does not guarantee that a supplement is effective, necessary, or right for every person. It simply helps reduce the chance of contamination, inaccurate labeling, or other quality concerns.

Our Minimum Standard

When possible, choose supplements that are verified by reputable third-party certification programs such as:

• NSF Certified for Sport®

• USP Verified

• Informed Sport

• Informed Choice

• BSCG Certified Drug Free®

This standard is intended to support safer purchasing decisions, not to replace medical, nutrition, or pharmacy advice.

How to Shop Smarter

• Look for a third-party certification mark on the label.

• Confirm the exact product in the certifier’s official database.

• Avoid assuming an entire brand is certified just because one product is.

• Review ingredients with your clinician or pharmacist, especially if you take medications or have complex health conditions.

• Be cautious with products that make extreme promises or hide behind proprietary blends.

Third-Party Programs and Example Brands

NSF Certified for Sport®

NSF Certified for Sport focuses on label accuracy, quality, and banned-substance screening. This is one of the most recognized programs for athlete-focused supplements.

Official links: Program overview | Certified product search

Example brands:

• Klean Athlete — brand information about its NSF Certified for Sport products.

• Garden of Life Sport — selected sport products carry NSF Certified for Sport certification.

• NSF example brand search: Klean Athlete.

USP Verified

USP Verified evaluates whether certain products contain the listed ingredients in the declared amounts, meet limits for specified contaminants, and are made according to quality manufacturing standards.

Official links: USP mark overview via Nature Made

Example brands with select USP Verified products:

• Nature Made

• Nature Made quality page

Other brands may also have select USP Verified products, but certification usually applies to specific items rather than every product a company sells.

Informed Sport

Informed Sport tests certified products for banned substances and is widely used in performance and sports nutrition.

Official links: Program overview | Certified brands

Example brand directory: Use the official Informed Sport certified brands page to review current brands and products.

Informed Choice

Informed Choice is another respected independent testing program used by supplement companies to verify quality and reduce contamination concerns.

Official links: Program overview | Certified brands | Certified products

Example brand directory: Use the official Informed Choice brand list to review current participating brands.

BSCG Certified Drug Free®

BSCG tests supplements for a broad range of drugs and contaminants and also evaluates manufacturing quality and label claims.

Official links: Program overview | Certified product database

Example brand directory: Use the official BSCG database to review current certified brands and products.

Important disclaimer: This page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, nutrition, pharmacy, or purchasing advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement routine—especially if you have syringomyelia, take prescription medications, are pregnant, or have other health conditions.

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