Understanding the Importance of Testing in Supplements

In today's world, we often hear about product recalls due to contamination or safety issues. Foods such as berries, lettuce, and avocados, which are supposed to be beneficial to our health, can sometimes pose risks. However, there is another area facing similar issues: dietary supplements. While supplements are regulated, they do not undergo the same stringent quality control as pharmaceuticals, leading to a plethora of low-quality products in the market. The FDA itself acknowledges its limited capacity to assist consumers in this matter. This topic deserves your attention, and I want to share my insights on it.

The Challenge of Ensuring Supplement Quality

Many companies claim to produce "clean" products but do not perform actual testing. If you are trying to evaluate a dietary supplement, it is essential to inquire about microplastics and heavy metals. I confronted one supplement company about this directly, and in this article, I will share what transpired.

Testing Practices: A Case Study with Ora

The founders of a supplement company called "Ora" reached out to me after hearing my discussions on microplastics and toxins. They wanted to inform me that they are eliminating plastic packaging and developing a testing program to ensure transparency and make results available to the public and consumers. I asked them directly: Do you test your final products? If so, how often, and what do you look for? They responded that they test for heavy metals in every production batch. This was impressive, but when I inquired about microplastics, they initially admitted they did not test for them. However, they acknowledged the need and committed to conducting tests for microplastics.

Test Results from Ora

Weeks later, Ora contacted me with the results of their new tests. They hired an independent, accredited laboratory called "Qualitics" to test three of their products: probiotics, creatine, and protein powder, alongside 10 comparative products from other companies. Using a technique called "Micro FTIR" (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), the laboratory can detect microplastics down to five particles per gram, which is a very low threshold. They can also detect heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium with a sensitivity of five parts per billion (ppb).

Findings from the Testing

Here’s what the testing revealed:

• All of Ora's products showed no trace of microplastics, while 50% of the products from comparative brands contained detectable microplastics.
• None of Ora's products contained arsenic, lead, cadmium, or mercury, whereas 80% of the comparative products contained detectable arsenic.

While none of the tested products exceeded safe limits, Ora’s commitment to quality was evident in their results. This highlights a crucial lesson: you cannot know what is inside a product unless you test it.

The Concern of Microplastics

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size, originating from various sources like food packaging, industrial fabrics, and plastic utensils. They can enter our water, soil, food, and even the air we breathe. The implications of ingesting microplastics are still being studied, but recent findings raise concerns about potential health risks.

Research Findings

In a 2022 study, researchers found measurable microplastic particles in the blood of 77% of healthy volunteers. Additionally, a study published in 2024 revealed the presence of microplastics in the plaques that block carotid arteries of patients, indicating a significant health risk associated with these particles.

Why Testing Matters

When evaluating dietary supplements, it is vital to inquire about testing for microplastics and heavy metals. Trusting what’s on the label is essential, and it’s your responsibility to ask the right questions. Companies like Ora are setting a standard by testing for contaminants and ensuring the safety of their products.

Featured Products from Ora

One notable product is their "So Lean and So Clean" organic protein powder, certified by the USDA. It contains a blend of organic pea and rice protein, coupled with sacha inchi, quinoa, and cranberries, covering all essential amino acids. Another product is "GLP-1 Up," a supplement designed to enhance the body’s natural production of GLP-1, a hormone that regulates insulin and promotes satiety.

Conclusion

In the realm of dietary supplements, it is crucial to question whether the product has undergone testing for purity, toxins, and contaminants like microplastics and heavy metals. The responsibility lies with consumers to seek out trustworthy products and ask the right questions.

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