How To Tell If A Supplement Is A Scam

When you think of the word “supplement”, what’s the first word that comes to mind?

Sketchy?

Scam?

Hopefully not! At Utzy we are advocates for clean, natural products produced with transparency. That being said, reading a supplement label can be overwhelming!

Where do you start? How can you see through a supplement scam?

Below are 5 things to be wary of when it comes to supplements.

1. Proprietary Blends

The number one sign of a supplement scam is if the product ingredient list contains a “proprietary blend”. Many companies hide behind proprietary blends because they don’t want to list ev erything in their “secret” formulas.

Major red flag!

The idea of putting something you are unsure of in your body is downright scary. An honest, trustworthy brand will include the ingredients and amounts of everything on their product label. If you see the words “proprietary blend”, run! 

Below is an image of what a “Proprietary Blend” looks like. While the types of ingredients are listed, this label obscures the amount of each ingredient.

This is usually done to hide the fact that the “blend” contains primarily cheaper ingredients (and microscopic amounts of the more expensive ingredients listed).

2. Does Your Brand Make It’s Own Products?

One major tell for supplement quality is whether the company that sells the product makes the product. When a company self-manufactures, it means that they are invested in the production and quality of the product they sell.

Sadly, the majority of supplement companies use 3rd party manufacturers. This means that the brand selling the product has little to no say in how the actual product was made.

At Utzy we manufacture our own products. We have intimate knowledge of the ingredients and manufacturing processes that each product goes through. We do this to ensure the quality and effectiveness of each product.

3. Lack Of “Brand Name” Ingredients

Did you know supplement ingredients can have “brand names”? Yes they can! Most supplement companies use cheap, generic ingredients (usually sourced from China and India).

If your supplement label has Trademarked or Reserved names and icons, it usually means that the ingredients in the product have been tested and have been shown to be effective. Some ingredients may even be clinically studied, which is the gold standard for efficacy. 

At Utzy we use ingredients like Albion’s chelated minerals, USP-grade vitamins, and sleep ingredients with clinical trials (see Suntheanine and PharmaGABA).

These ingredients have gone through scientific study to show their effectiveness. The manufacturers of these ingredients have also been around for decades and have shown themselves to be trustworthy.

4. 3rd Party Testing

A quality brand should have some sort of 3rd party testing to verify their product. Third party testing keeps everyone honest and helps to give you, the consumer, peace of mind.

There are quite a testing organization out there, but the big ones to look for are:

•NSF and NSF Certified for Sport

•USDA Organic

•Non-GMO Project Verified

•GOED (for Fish Oil, shows sustainability)

We use NSF to test and verify our product and facility. We also use 3rd party auditors to come into our manufacturing facility throughout the year to ensure that we are up to par with all of the latest regulations.

One thing to keep in mind is that there is no such thing as a “GMP Certified” supplement. All supplement manufacturers are under what are called GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices). The FDA controls this process. While the FDA will audit and check in on manufacturers periodically, they offer no such thing as a “GMP Certification”. So if you see a supplement brand with a ”GMP Certified” icon, run! No governing body offers this type of certification.

5. Lots of “Other Ingredients”

Lastly, be on the lookout for a lengthy list of “Other Ingredients” on your supplement's label (below the Supplement Facts Box). This is where sketchy brands will hide all of their dirty secrets. Below is an example:

In particular, artificial colors and flavors are two items to be on the lookout for. Also, check carefully for

•Rice Flour (filler, to make the capsule look full)

•Gelatin (cheaper, animal sourced capsules)

•Carmel color (use for color)

Interested in high quality, trusted supplements? Look no further than Utzy Naturals. We offer a complete line of trustworthy products, manufactured with integrity. With Utzy you can supplement with confidence!