To the uninitiated, supplement quality certifications can seem like confusing strings of capital letters. However, to supplement consumers who use the certifications as signals of quality and safety, these letters provide critical purchasing information. With government and independent third-party quality certifications for nutraceutical manufacturers and consumers to consider, it helps to have a team of experts tasked to oversee qualifications, regulations, and compliance.
Here at Vitaquest, no one knows more about the rigorous requirements that manufacturers must meet to offer these certifications than Vitaquest’s Quality Assurance, Compliance, and Food Safety Coordinator, Stephanie Mercado. Since she started her career at Vitaquest, Stephanie has helped us obtain a handful of celebrated quality certifications. Here are just a few we’re proud to mention.
FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification
Stephanie was intimately involved in helping Vitaquest become one of the first Dietary Supplement companies to achieve FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification. This certification integrates ISO 22000 principles of hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) with GMP prerequisite programs and is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI). This recognition embodies the Vitaquest mission to provide the highest levels of product safety in the nutraceuticals and functional foods market.
According to Stephanie, it took two years of dedicated effort and investment to reach this prestigious goal, and it will continue to involve continuous improvements, ongoing audits, and management support to maintain. As part of the effort, a food safety policy is signed by the organization’s most senior leaders and is displayed in a location for all employees to read.
NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) Certification
On top of this foundational dedication to health and safety, Vitaquest also offers NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) Certification which assures consumers that supplements manufactured by Vitaquest are produced according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
As an NSF-certified facility, Vitaquest ensures that our products do not contain harmful levels of contaminants and that the supplements contain the ingredients listed on the label and nothing else. Further, Vitaquest provides NSF’s Certified for Sport certification which signals to athletes that the supplements do not contain unsafe levels of contaminants, prohibited substances, or masking agents.
Certified Organic Manufacturer, Non-GMO Certified, & More
While NSF and FSSC certifications are impressive, that’s not all! For specific dietary concerns, Stephanie’s team works to enable the use of Certified Organic, non-GMO-certified, and gluten-free certified designations for products meeting the respective requirements for these certifications. Additionally, Vitaquest offers compliance with Kosher and Halal requirements for customers and consumers who follow those dietary guidelines.
A Timeline of Dietary Supplement Industry Regulations in the United States
In addition to the certifications mentioned above, it’s important for existing and aspiring brand owners to thoroughly understand the various U.S. dietary supplement regulations that govern our industry. For your convenience, the expert team at Vitaquest has created the following infographic:
Wrapping Up:
Stephanie and her team are constantly working to ensure Vitaquest delivers the highest-quality dietary supplements to our customers. So, if you want to work with an innovative supplement manufacturer that meets the highest standards for quality and safety and can help you provide consumers with assurances for various dietary choices, contact Vitaquest today. Call 800-526-9095 to speak with one of our knowledgeable sales executives or request a competitive nutraceutical manufacturing price quote.
