Although the nutritional supplements market isn’t as huge as that for pharmaceuticals, it’s nonetheless booming. Supplements, however, operate in a significantly less regulated environment – a dearth of oversight that creates advantages and challenges alike. These extend from manufacturers and retailers down to consumers. The most ethical supplement companies make transparency and honesty an operational cornerstone. In their drive to assure safety, many such companies establish quality control standards exceeding those mandated by the FDA for pharmaceuticals. For consumers hoping to obtain maximum benefit from nutritional supplements while minimizing risk, knowing how to identify ethical, transparent companies and the highest-quality products is critical.
NewsXPartners Corporation Identifies What the Best Nutritional Supplement Companies Are Doing to Maintain Superior Quality Control Standards in a Largely Unregulated Market is an original (BetterNutritionNews) article.
Yeah, there’s a supplement for that
Are you looking for ways to naturally enhance your mood? Perhaps you’re on a diet and hoping to give your weight-loss plan some extra boost. Maybe you’re seeking a pharmaceutical-free solution to help alleviate a chronic condition, specific health problems, or diseases.
Whatever ailment you want to address, chances are, you can find options among the vast number of available consumer supplements that might help. This marketplace is comprised of a tantalizing landscape of possibilities. From enhanced energy and focus to overall vitality and even to fertility and virility, you’ll likely find a supplement to fit the bill.
Separating quality from chaff
Finding a high-quality supplement – one containing the labeled ingredients without unlisted byproducts or contaminants that also does what it claims to do – can be tricky. As such, consumers must navigate the supplements landscape cautiously.
Compared to pharmaceuticals, the supplements industry operates under a far less stringent regulatory framework. Although this environment often fosters innovation, it also raises valid concerns about quality and safety.
At NewsXPartners Corporation, the focus is on connecting consumers with the most reputable companies and the highest-quality products. The firm exists, in large part, to help educate consumers regarding the practices that differentiate ethical supplement companies from unethical ones. NewsXPartners Corporation helps consumers know the difference between high-quality supplements and ineffective – even dangerous – second-rate pretenders.
Supplement regulation does exist, but…
Although the supplements industry is largely unregulated, it doesn’t operate wholly free of oversight. In 1994, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which created some much-needed regulatory guardrails. The FDA updated and expanded the DSHEA in 2007 and again in 2010.
This law, which established supplements as a unique dietary category, distinct from traditional food and drugs, seeks to hold manufacturers responsible for consumer safety. It mandates that supplements are:
Free of adulterations – An “adulterated” supplement may contain cheaper, low-quality ingredients that differ from what’s on the label. Adulteration could also mean a product contains hidden pharmaceutical compounds or other components to artificially and misleadingly boost claimed efficacy. Supplements can also be inadvertently adulterated with things like heavy metals or other harmful substances, introduced as byproducts of insufficient quality control or manufacturing standards.
To help prevent supplement adulteration, the DSHEA requires supplement manufacturers to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). The FDA has established supplement GMPs to standardize certain aspects of manufacturing, including quality control, cleanliness, and record-keeping.
Not misbranded – The DSHEA strives to prevent companies from including any labeling information that’s false or misleading. These mislabeling standards include anything related to health claims, ingredients, and usage directions. Labels must also include the manufacturer’s and/or distributor’s name, address, and a standard FDA ‘Supplement Facts’ panel with ingredients and quantities.
The DSHEA also requires manufacturers to verify that the ingredients and label specifications match those actually contained in the finished product. The DSHEA’s misbranding standards are the reason supplements carry this disclaimer: “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
A landscape of loopholes, toothless enforcement
While the DSHEA certainly provides some consumer protection, it’s also largely toothless regarding the FDA’s power to stringently enforce it. For one, FDA resources for DSHEA oversight are significantly limited compared to the size of the supplements market. There’s also a decided lack of premarket supplement review under the DSHEA. These factors make it challenging for the FDA to proactively prevent violations. The agency is much more likely to move against a violator after a supplement hits the shelves. This, in turn, means an offending product may have already caused harm or wasted dollars when the FDA targets it.
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous players in the supplements market, knowing the often-lax nature of DSHEA enforcement, sometimes exploit loopholes in the law. This could mean undercutting claim regulations, disguising unapproved ingredients, or subtly mislabeling a product in the hopes of not being caught or causing harm.
The ups and downs of lax regulation
The lack of solid, centralized supplement oversight creates both benefits and disadvantages. For one, this under-regulated environment generates a certain “Wild West” element. This enables bad players to prioritize rock-bottom pricing and short-term profit over consumer health and safety. With such companies in the market, subpar ingredients, contaminated products, and deceptive marketing can sometimes find their way to consumers. Moreover, ethical companies – those striving to protect consumer health and operate honestly and transparently – may be competitively disadvantaged against those willing to cut corners.
Moreover, the lack of regulation means there are no standardized daily dosages and dosage frequencies for given ingredients. There are also no standardized ingredient formulations or uniform agreements regarding what a supplement can or can’t address. Such factors create tremendous fragmentation and uncertainty across the segment.
On the positive side, reduced oversight sometimes enables the creation of innovative formulations, which can come to market faster – often at a reduced cost. In the pharmaceutical industry, such innovation is often dampened by an arduous, lengthy FDA approval process.
Supplements, of course, differ from pharmaceuticals in many ways. To some degree, then, a looser regulatory framework is justifiable; in many other ways, however, a more rigid framework and stricter enforcement are badly needed.
NewsXPartners Corporation: advocating on behalf of ethical companies
Founded in 2006 by a small group of media insiders, NewsXPartners Corporation has always been a strong proponent of and a believer in the power of supplements. In the early years, the firm supported small businesses against larger competitors, but it has since expanded internationally, embracing digital channels and serving businesses of all sizes.
As a respected marketing and PR company, NewsXPartners Corporation is proud to maintain an unwavering presence in nootropics, smart drugs, and adaptogens. The firm recognizes that ethical, trustworthy supplement companies need an advocate in a fragmented, uncertain marketplace – a way to differentiate themselves from less scrupulous players. That’s precisely what NewsXPartners Corporation delivers, and it’s essential in a market where regulation alone can’t guarantee safety.
Strategizing excellence in the supplement space
NewsXPartners Corporation collaborates only with “white hat” supplement companies – those with a proven commitment to ethics, high-quality ingredients, meticulous manufacturing, transparency, and truth in advertising. Such companies demonstrate a clearly defined focus on quality control. NewsXPartners Corporation seeks partners that go above and beyond in the following ways:
Ingredient sourcing – Companies focused on safety, transparency, and ethical business practices prioritize sourcing from trusted suppliers who share a commitment to purity and strict quality control. This includes the use of organic or non-GMO ingredients whenever possible and avoiding those with potential contaminants. It’s also important to ensure that workers who cultivate ingredients are adequately compensated and ethically treated.
Third-party testing – NewsXPartners Corporation also seeks companies that employ independent, unaffiliated labs for product and ingredient testing. The use of independent, unaffiliated labs helps ensure rigorous, subjective testing with results that consumers can trust and believe in.
Manufacturing excellence – “White hat” companies seek reputable manufacturing facilities and doggedly adhere to good manufacturing practices. These practices help ensure consistent quality and product safety throughout the production process.
Label transparency – Clear, honest labeling is paramount to rising above the fragmentation and uncertainty in the supplement industry. NewsXPartners Corporation looks for partners that disclose all ingredients on their labels, including exact quantities. Label transparency also extends to the avoidance of misleading health claims, dosages, or product usage.
Commitment to research – The best companies in the industry invest in regular research to validate the effectiveness and safety of their product and ingredients. They’re particularly diligent when bringing something new to the market. Furthermore, they understand the value of collaborating with universities or independent research institutions for generating science-based evidence.
Profit motive – NewsXPartners Corporation also seeks corporate partners that aren’t driven solely by profit. Admittedly, making a profit is critical to any successful business, but NewsXPartners Corporation firmly believes the best companies start with a genuine desire to help improve lives.
Quality may justify a higher price
Rigorous standards of quality don’t come without a price, and high-quality supplements may sometimes cost more. However, it’s critical for consumers to recognize higher costs as an investment in good health. Ask yourself: What’s less expensive – a supplement that costs more but actually does what it’s advertised to do, or a product that costs less but has no impact on health or worse, actually does damage? Safe, reliable products that deliver their stated benefits cost considerably less in the long run.
Empowering a more engaged consumer
Although consumers should demand that supplement companies go the extra mile in bringing high-quality products to the market, they should also actively participate in the process. Even the most ethical manufacturers can’t guarantee results or serve as a substitute for professional medical advice. Consumers should commit themselves to thoroughly researching any product they consider using and consulting their doctor about those products, too. Familiarity with ingredients, including in regard to reported benefits, potential side effects, and interactions, is paramount to safe and effective supplement usage.
For those seeking clarity in a fragmented, often confusing market, NewsXPartners Corporation offers a powerful resource. With in-depth reviews, news, and insights about products and companies, the firm strives to help consumers sift through the marketing hype surrounding so many supplements and manufacturers. Their goal is to improve health through high-quality supplementation. NewsXPartners Corporation firmly believes that the process starts with informed consumers.
For further research:
Center for Science in the Public Interest – FDA alert: Supplements sold on Amazon may be poison or drugs
Medscape – Ontario case shows potential supplement risk for consumers
Natural Products Insider – Sourcing supplement ingredients and components from China
Very Well Health – These are the supplements you should avoid taking with medication
McGill – The false reassurance of dietary supplement regulation
Everyday Health – The best time of day to take these five kinds of dietary supplements
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
