Let's cut to the chase - what does "third-party tested" really mean?

Do I need to tell my athletes to seek out these mystical stamps of approval, or are they simply another layer of unnecessary financial expense to limit the number of major players in the dietary supplement space?

Let's dive in. Right out of the gate let's play 'dictionary'. Third-party tested or third-party certified refers to the act of an independent (not owned or operated by the manufacturer) laboratory/quality assurance entity to perform one or several of the following actions: audit the manufacturing process, validate label claims, perform heavy metal and toxin testing, perform banned substance testing, test for masking agents, and a host of various other testing/auditing functions. As you can imagine, there is not only a cost associated with third-party testing/certification, but it can create several issues if you're not manufacturing and selling quality products in a top-notch facility.

To be clear, there will always be good and bad in all industries, and the world of dietary and sports nutrition supplements is no different. A quick online search will reveal the countless lawsuits and legal actions brought against various brands in the space for falsified label claims, contaminated products, inclusion of banned substances in performance products, tainted products with banned anabolics inside, and sadly, cases of organ failure and deaths from ingestion of these products. Is there anything that can be done to fix this issue? To alleviate the
possible harms of such a vaguely regulated industry?

The short answer - possibly.

Third-party companies who can perform unbiased lab testing, QA, auditing, and validation on dietary supplements are one of the few ways to oversee a manufacturer/distributor and ensure quality products are entering the market.

The first thing to look for on your label is cGMP. As of 2007 (fully enforced as of 2010), all dietary supplement handlers, manufacturers, packagers, distributors, etc. must comply with the FDAs cGMP policy. This means they must follow the most up-to-date or "current" good manufacturing practices as set by the FDA. This set of parameters and quality controls is put in place to ensure that everything from intake of raw ingredients, handling, mixing, packaging, facility cleanliness, operations, labeling, marketing, and a host of other parameters are being
done safely, sanitarily, and properly per auditing and regulation by the FDA.

The second thing to find on a label is a third party stamp. Companies such as CL®, USP®, NSF®, Informed Sport®/Informed Choice®, and BSCG® are all going to be stamps to look for to ensure your product has undergone some additional testing. This statement comes with a bit of nuance. Understand that these brands do different things. Some are testing for label claims, some are testing for banned substances (typically mimicking the WADA list), some are testing
for toxins or heavy metals, and some do multiple things.

My take on it is this: If there aren't two seals on it, I would shy away from buying or recommend it to your athletes. Can a product without third-party validation be a quality product and do the body good? Of course. Can a product have an innately harmful ingredient that wasn't tested for and can cause people negative outcomes? Naturally yes. However, the risk is simply too high to
not cover your bases and go with what we know to be the best of the best. It is not worth being the coach who says it doesn't matter and ends up seeing a player harmed.

About the writer: I believe that fitness is a lifestyle, not a choice. It separates thriving and healthy, from tired, sick and informed. When I got into my twenties I felt a calling for research and the ability to look into what changes can be made to the human body through various modalities. This was further sparked when I was
given the opportunity to play college football at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Then subsequently I was trained by my mentor, and revered strength coach Josh Musick. I have had the opportunity to train alongside, and program for adolescents, professional athletes and many in between. Aside from my time
as a clinical pharmacist, I serve as an assistant Strength and Conditioning coach for football and men’s basketball at Evangel University in Springfield, MO. I have been studying dietary supplements for over 16 years and consult for several clients throughout the US on safe and effective use of sports nutrition products.
“We are all given opportunities, and we all face trials, but it’s what we choose to do with the hand we are dealt that sets us apart.”