Supplement labels are full of badges and acronyms. We think you should know what ours mean, so here’s the plain-English version.
What is cGMP?
cGMP stands for current Good Manufacturing Practice. In the U.S., the FDA requires dietary supplement makers to follow cGMP rules, found in federal regulation 21 CFR Part 111. They cover how a facility is run: how ingredients are sourced and tested, how equipment is kept clean, how products are made, labeled, and packaged, and how records are kept.
In short, cGMP is about consistency. The product in the tub should match what’s on the label, every time.
What does NSF add?
NSF is an independent, third-party organization that audits manufacturers. Its dietary supplement GMP standard, NSF/ANSI 455-2, is based on the FDA’s cGMP regulation and adds criteria drawn from retailer requirements and industry best practices. NSF is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board to certify manufacturers to these standards.
So “NSF-certified cGMP” means an outside auditor has checked the facility and confirmed it meets the standard. It isn’t just the manufacturer’s word.
What it means for you
- Consistency: Documented processes help each batch be made the same way.
- Accountability: An independent auditor, not the brand, verifies the facility.
- Peace of mind: Your supplement is made in a facility held to rigorous, third-party-checked standards.
What it doesn’t mean
We believe in being straight with you. Our products are made by an NSF-certified cGMP manufacturing partner. That certification covers the facility and how it operates. It is not the same as NSF Certified for Sport®, a separate program in which NSF tests individual finished products for banned substances and verifies label claims. We don’t claim that certification for our products.
How we think about it
We’re a small company, and we can’t watch every step of production ourselves. That’s why we chose a manufacturing partner whose standards are verified by someone other than us. Quality shouldn’t depend on taking our word for it.