When you buy a vitamin or supplement, you want to know that you're getting what you expect. But with so many products, ingredients and claims to navigate, understanding exactly what goes into a supplement, and how its quality is assessed, isn't always straightforward.
At Zipvit, we've noticed a change in the questions our customers are asking too. It's easier than ever for people to research their supplements and come up with detailed questions about ingredients, dosage, testing, purity and quality. As a result, customers are asking more in-depth questions than ever before - and we think that's a positive thing.
We believe customers should be able to understand more about the supplements they're choosing, that's why we've added our third-party testing to our product pages.
Our formulas haven't changed, we're not changing what's in your supplements. Instead, we're adding another layer of transparency to help give you greater insight into the quality of the products you're buying from us.
In this guide, we'll explain what third-party testing means, what it can tell you, why the results can sometimes be difficult to understand and how we're making that information easier for Zipvit customers to use.
What Is Third-Party Testing?
Third-party testing means that a manufacturing lab result or product is tested by an organisation that is independent of the company selling the supplement. Rather than relying solely on manufacturing lab results, an independent body can analyse the results or carry out additional testing.
Depending on the product and the tests carried out, this may help assess things such as:
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Whether the ingredients identified on the label are present in the stated strength
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Whether certain contaminants are present
The exact tests carried out will depend on the type of supplement and the ingredients it contains. There isn't one single test that tells you everything about every supplement.
Independent testing is therefore best thought of as another layer of quality assurance and transparency.
Why Does Third-Party Testing Matter?
Food supplements are taken to support health and wellbeing. Naturally, customers want confidence in what they're buying, third-party testing can provide an additional, independent check of a product's composition or quality.
Organisations involved in supplement testing and certification may assess factors such as ingredient identity, quantity, purity and contaminants. For example, independent testing programmes can test products against defined standards and check whether their contents match what is declared on the label. ¹
This doesn't mean that third-party testing is a guarantee that a supplement will provide a particular health outcome. It is about checking aspects of the product itself - for us, that's an important distinction.
We don't see testing as a reason to make bigger promises about our products, we see it as a way of providing customers with more information.
Why Has Zipvit Started Sharing Third-Party Testing Results?
The supplement industry has changed significantly, customers have access to more information than ever before. Search engines, social media, online communities and AI tools make it easier to research individual ingredients.
We've seen this reflected in the questions we’re frequently asked.
People aren't just asking:
"What does this supplement contain?"
They're asking questions such as:
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How is this ingredient tested?
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Has the finished product been independently tested?
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What does the test result actually mean?
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How much of the active ingredient is present?
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Has the product been tested for contaminants?
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What does a particular laboratory result tell me about quality?
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How does one test compare with another?
We think customers should be able to find meaningful answers, that's one of the reasons we've published third-party testing across our products.
Have Zipvit's Formulas Changed?
No, our move towards third-party testing does not mean we've changed the formulas of our supplements, the ingredients and formulations haven't been changed simply because we're publishing third-party testing. Instead, we're taking an existing product and adding another level of independent scrutiny around its quality.
What Will Customers Be Able to See?
As products are tested, we'll make the relevant information available on the individual product pages. This means you won't have to search around the website trying to find out whether a particular product has been tested.
The aim is to give you information where you actually need it: alongside the product you're considering. Depending on the product and the testing carried out, this may include information about the testing performed and the results obtained. We'll also interpret those results in a straightforward way, just publishing a laboratory report isn't necessarily helpful on its own.
Understanding Your Third-Party Testing Results
Where third-party testing has been carried out, the results are interpreted by Defacto Labs to make them quick and easy to understand. This allows you to see at a glance whether a product has been checked for key areas such as dosage, contaminants and heavy metals, without having to work through a technical laboratory report yourself.
For those who want to look at the full details, the individual third-party testing reports can also be downloaded from the relevant product page. Our aim is to make testing information transparent, accessible and useful, whether you want a quick overview of the results or prefer to explore the full laboratory report.
What Can Third-Party Testing Tell You About a Supplement?
The answer depends on the product and the testing performed, for example, testing may be used to verify the presence or quantity of particular ingredients or to check for specified contaminants. Independent laboratories can use different analytical techniques depending on what they're testing for, including methods such as chromatography and mass spectrometry. ²
This is why it's important not to assume that every third-party test checks for exactly the same things, a test result needs to be considered in context. For example, a test designed to measure the amount of a particular vitamin isn't necessarily also a test for every possible contaminant.
The test tells you about the things it was designed to measure, which is something we'll include alongside the results rather than leaving customers to make assumptions.
Does Third-Party Testing Guarantee a Supplement Is High Quality?
No single test can provide a blanket guarantee of quality, instead, third-party testing should be viewed as an indication of quality and an additional layer of reassurance. Quality is influenced by many things, including the sourcing of ingredients, manufacturing processes, storage, testing and quality control. Independent testing adds another useful piece of information to that bigger picture.
We think that's important because we're not interested in making testing sound like a magic stamp of approval, we want customers to understand what it can, and can't, tell them.
Why Independent Testing Is Useful
One of the main benefits of third-party testing is independence, when testing is carried out by an independent body, the results provide an additional perspective beyond the company's own internal quality processes.
This can help provide greater confidence that the product has been assessed against the relevant testing requirements, for consumers, it's another useful question to ask when comparing supplements: Has the product been independently tested, and what exactly was tested?
What Should You Look For When Choosing a Supplement?
Third-party testing is one factor to consider, but it shouldn't be the only one.
When choosing a vitamin or supplement, it's also worth looking at:
1. The ingredients
Check exactly what the product contains and how much of each active ingredient is provided.
2. The serving size
A large number on the front of a pack doesn't necessarily tell you how much you're actually taking per serving.
3. The quality information
Look for information about sourcing, manufacturing and testing.
4. The test results
If third-party testing is available, find out what was tested and what the results actually demonstrate.
5. The company behind the product
Look for a company that is willing to answer questions and provide clear information about its products.
6. The bigger picture
No supplement can replace a varied diet and healthy lifestyle. Supplements should form part of an overall approach to health rather than being treated as a quick fix.
Why We're Making Testing Information Easier to Find
We don't think customers should have to send us an email every time they have a question about product quality, and while our customer service team is always here to help, we'd rather give customers useful information upfront wherever we can.
That's why we're adding relevant third-party testing information directly to individual product pages, it means you can look at a product, see the testing information available for it and understand what the results mean, all in one place. As more products go through the testing process, we'll continue to build this information into our website.
Third-Party Testing: Another Step Towards Greater Transparency
For us, third-party testing isn't about changing what goes into our supplements, it's about adding another layer of information and independent assessment around the products we've already been making.
We know that customers are asking more detailed questions about their supplements, and we think that's a good thing. The more people understand what they're buying, the better, but we also know that laboratory testing can be complicated.
That's why we're not simply going to put technical results in front of you and expect you to interpret them yourself. We'll highlight the relevant information on individual product pages, helping you understand what was tested and what the results show.
Third-party testing isn't a guarantee of perfection, but it can be an important indication of quality and an additional layer of reassurance. And ultimately, that's what we're aiming for: giving you more information, making it easier to understand and helping you feel more confident about the supplements you choose.
FAQs
What is third-party testing?
Third-party testing is when an independent laboratory or organisation tests a product or ingredient. Depending on the testing performed, this can help assess factors such as ingredient identity, quantity, purity or the presence of specified contaminants.
Why is third-party testing important for supplements?
It provides an additional layer of independent assessment and can give customers more information about the quality and composition of a supplement.
Have Zipvit formulas changed because of third-party testing?
No. Our formulas haven't changed. We've added third-party results as an additional quality and transparency measure.
Will I be able to see Zipvit's test results?
Relevant third-party testing information will be added to individual Zipvit product pages as products go through the testing process.
Does third-party testing guarantee a supplement is safe?
No. A test provides information about the specific things that were tested. Different tests assess different characteristics, so results should always be considered in context.
Is third-party testing a sign of quality?
Third-party testing can be an indication of quality because it provides an additional independent assessment of a product. However, it should be considered alongside other aspects of quality control, manufacturing and product information.
