Clean Up Needed In The Supplement Aisle: The Supplement Aisle Checklist

CLEAN UP NEEDED IN THE SUPPLEMENT AISLE

We need a clean up in the supplement aisle. It seems like every day a new powder, pill, or gummy hits the shelf, largely without adequate testing or substantiated claims. In reality, the supplement market has outpaced regulatory oversight — and the speed at which the category is growing adds to the confusion and lack of clarity around which products and brands can be trusted to deliver exactly what their label suggests.

The Supplement Aisle Checklist

When considering supplements that are available on the market, there are a few important things to look out for. By bringing more visibility and rigor to these considerations, we can collectively push for higher standards in the category and clean up the confusion surrounding supplements. Some important elements include:

• Third-party testing and certification that verify the quality and safety of the product.
• A science- and research-backed approach you can trust.
• Form factor matters. You want to make sure key nutrients make it into the body efficiently.
• Simplicity. Supplements like AG1 are designed to make daily supplementation simpler, replacing multiple single-function products with one foundational solution to support whole-body health.

Understanding third-party testing

Third-party testing provides independent verification of supplement quality, purity, and manufacturing standards.

Third-party tested supplements have been evaluated by organizations outside the manufacturing company—labs and certification bodies that have no financial stake in the product's success. This independent assessment confirms that:

• The product contains the ingredients listed on the label in the amounts claimed
• Harmful contaminants, such as microbial pathogens and certain pesticides are not detected
• Heavy metals are below established safety limits
• The manufacturing process adheres to strict quality standards (Good Manufacturing Practice, or GMP)
• No banned substances are present

When you're deciding how to choose a safe supplement, checking for third-party testing is one of the highest-priority boxes to tick.

Importance of NSF certification

NSF Certified for Sport® is one of the most rigorous independent certifications available.

What NSF Certified for Sport® means

The certification process includes:¹

• Annual audits of manufacturing facilities: NSF inspectors review every step of production, from raw material sourcing to finished product testing, every single year. These audits ensure consistency and compliance with GMP standards.
• Toxicology review of all ingredients: Each ingredient undergoes scrutiny for safety, purity, and appropriate dosing.
• Testing for over 280 banned substances: This covers stimulants, steroids, diuretics, masking agents, and other compounds prohibited by major sporting organizations and anti-doping regulations like the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).¹
• Label claim verification: NSF confirms that every claim on the product label is accurate and substantiated.
• Batch testing for contaminants: Before a product reaches shelves, it's tested for heavy metals, pesticides, microbial pathogens, and other harmful substances.¹

Key factors in a supplement checklist

Because third-party testing is vital for ensuring the quality and safety of dietary supplements, it’s important that testing happens throughout the entire product development process. For AG1, that means partnering with world-class testing and diagnostic organizations to ensure that raw materials and finished products meet our high standard for product quality and safety specs.

A quality supplement checklist should include these critical elements:

Raw material testing & traceability

Before ingredients enter a supplement formula, they should be tested for purity and potency. Reputable brands can trace each ingredient back to its source and verify that suppliers meet quality standards.

How we do this at AG1: Testing every batch of AG1 using state-of-the-art technology and instrumentation. Validation that every batch of AG1 passes label claims testing.

Heavy metals & contaminants

Anything that comes from the ground—including fruits, vegetables, and drinking water—is likely to contain trace amounts of heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. A rigorous supplement checklist demands testing against standards set by the US Pharmacopeia (USP) and NSF International,² two independent organizations that establish safety benchmarks for supplements and pharmaceuticals.

How we do this at AG1: Product release testing for harmful microbes and heavy metals to ensure levels remain below USP and NSF International guidelines.

Allergen testing

Common allergens can trigger immune reactions in sensitive individuals. Testing ensures products are free from or below safe thresholds for major allergens.

How we do this at AG1: Extensive allergen testing for gluten (wheat, rye, barley) at <20ppm, milk, egg, and peanut to meet safety standards for individuals with sensitivities.

Pesticide & herbicide testing

Agricultural chemicals used in conventional farming may impact gut health and nutrient absorption. Quality brands test for these residues beyond relying solely on supplier certifications.

How we do this at AG1: Additional third-party testing for over 500 pesticides and herbicides, including glyphosate (the most commonly used herbicide), atrazine, and AMPA. AG1 is certified Glyphosate Residue Free by The Detox Project through a third-party ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, tested down to government-recognized limits of detection.

Microbial & toxin testing

A supplement you'll consume daily must be safe for long-term use. This means testing for bacteria (Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus), molds, yeasts, and mycotoxins or aflatoxins that could compromise safety.

How we do this at AG1: Comprehensive microbial testing ensuring AG1 is safe to drink on a long-term daily basis, with testing for harmful bacteria, molds, yeasts, and toxic microbe byproducts.

Banned substance screening

If a supplement is marketed to active people or athletes, it should be screened for substances banned in sports, such as anabolic agents, beta-agonists, stimulants, selective androgen receptor modulators, and more.

How we do this at AG1: NSF Certified for Sport® testing for over 280 banned substances, covering stimulants, steroids, diuretics, masking agents, and other compounds prohibited by major sporting organizations and anti-doping regulations like the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Bioavailability validation

Form factor, nutrient pairing, and ingredient quality can influence bioavailability—how well nutrients are absorbed and used by the body.³ Look for brands that have conducted studies showing their key nutrients reach the bloodstream.

How we do this at AG1: Clinical studies demonstrating that key nutrients in AG1 Next Gen, including folate, vitamin C, zinc, and calcium, are significantly elevated in the blood after consumption. In a clinical trial conducted on AG1 Next Gen, almost 90% of measured nutrients were significantly elevated in the blood within 30 minutes of drinking AG1.⁴

Testing partnerships

In addition to NSF Certified for Sport® certification, AG1 partners with industry-leading organizations committed to excellence in testing, including IEH, Alkemist Labs, and Mérieux NutriSciences.

How to evaluate supplement labels

What to know about supplement labels starts with understanding the "Supplement Facts" panel—the standardized label that details ingredient amounts, serving size, and other key information.

Checking for third-party certifications

Scan the label for third-party certifications like NSF Certified for Sport®, USP (US Pharmacopeia) verification,³ or IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) certification. These badges indicate independent testing has been completed.

Checking for clinical research

How to tell if a supplement is third-party tested involves more than just reading the label. Reputable brands publish their research, both on their website or in peer-reviewed journals. Look for:

• Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)—The gold standard in clinical research
• In vitro or preclinical studies—These provide mechanistic insights

Tips for choosing quality vitamins

When you're standing in front of a vitamin checklist or evaluating a multivitamin, these practical tips will help you make a confident choice:

Prioritize third-party testing over price. A cheaper supplement that lacks independent verification is a gamble. Rigorous testing costs money.

Verify the research. Does the brand cite randomized controlled trials? What are the NSF standards for food and dietary supplements? NSF Certified for Sport® requires evidence-based claims, annual audits, and testing that meets rigorous independent quality standards.

Form factor matters. When it comes to nutrition, everything ladders up to physical absorption. Bioavailability is the extent to which your body can absorb, distribute, and eliminate any given nutrient. This is why looking for supplements that focus on bioavailability is critical.

Powders like AG1 are generally easily absorbed into the body with less time required to break down ingredients. In vitro testing using a previous version of AG1 found that minerals were more bioaccessible (meaning more available for absorption) when delivered in a powdered format compared to a tablet, supporting the idea that powder format may help the body better access key nutrients.⁵

The role of audits in supplement safety

NSF dietary supplement audit checklist procedures are where the rubber meets the road when it comes to supplement safety. Annual audits ensure that what was tested in the lab actually makes it to consumers unchanged. A single test at product launch isn't enough. Manufacturing conditions change, suppliers evolve, and products can degrade over time on shelves.

Beyond the label: a holistic approach to supplement Safety

How to choose a safe supplement means looking at the complete picture: independent testing, rigorous manufacturing standards, transparent labeling, clinical research backing key claims, and a brand's commitment to continuous improvement.

Look for NSF Certified for Sport® or other rigorous third-party certifications. Verify that GMP-certified supplements come from facilities with documented quality controls. Check for clinical research, particularly randomized controlled trials, supporting product claims.

To learn more about how AG1 prioritizes testing and quality standards, visit our approach to clinical research, explore our quality standards, and check out how AG1 supports whole-body health.

References:

¹ NSF International. NSF Certified for Sport® Fact Sheet. https://www.nsfsport.com

² US Pharmacopeia (USP). Dietary Supplement Verification Program. https://www.usp.org

³ Rowland I, Gibson G, Heinken A, et al. Gut microbiota functions: metabolism of nutrients and other food components. Eur J Nutr. 2018;57(1):1-24. doi:10.1007/s00394-017-1445-8

⁴ In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial assessing nutrient gaps and bioavailability in 16 healthy adults ages 18–42 over the course of 8 hours.

⁵ Based on an in-vitro study conducted using a previous AG1 formula, with stool samples from three donors and a simulated digestive tract model (SHIME), under controlled laboratory conditions. For more information, visit https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0464/2/4/41