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Choosing Dietary Supplements
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The USP Dietary Supplement Verification Program: Helping Pharmacists and Consumers Select Dietary Supplements
Read about USP's dietary supplement verification program in U.S. Pharmacist.

See a list of USP Verified dietary supplements.

Contact Information

Questions on dietary supplements? Email or call +1-301-816-8273.

USP Verified Dietary Supplements

Graphic of USP verified Mark

What the USP Verified Mark Means on a Supplement Label

The distinctive USP Verified Dietary Supplement Mark is awarded to finished dietary supplements that pass USP's comprehensive verification processes. Manufacturers can display the mark on the label of USP Verified products. The mark represents that USP has rigorously tested and verified the supplement to assure the following:

  1. What's on the label is in fact in the bottle—all the listed ingredients in the declared amount.
  2. The supplement does not contain harmful levels of contaminants.
  3. The supplement will break down and release ingredients in the body
  4. The supplement has been made under good manufacturing practices.

USP is an independent, not-for-profit organization. No other organization in the U.S. that tests supplements is recognized in federal law as the nation's official standard-setting body for medicines and supplements. USP standards are enforceable by the FDA.

Why it's Important to Know What USP Verified Assures

  • Integrity Tests based on USP standards have shown that contents of many supplements sold in retail stores don't match the label and that some supplements contain significantly less or more than the claimed amount of key ingredients. There may be a serious health risk when supplements taken to prevent a specific health problem do not contain ingredients in appropriate quantities. You must be sure of the identity and amount of ingredients in your supplements if you want to be sure you're getting value for your money.
  • Purity Some supplements may contain lead, mercury, other heavy metals, pesticides, bacteria, molds, toxins, or other potentially harmful contaminants. You must be sure these contaminants are not present at levels that can cause health problems.
  • Dissolution If a supplement does not break down properly to allow its ingredients to dissolve in the body, it means you won't get the full benefit of its contents. It's important for you to know that the supplement has been tested against recognized standards, as the USP Verified Mark indicates.
  • Safe manufacturing Assurance of safe, sanitary, well-controlled, and well-documented manufacturing and monitoring processes is proof that the supplement manufacturer is quality-conscious and concerned for your well-being.

Learn about USP's rigorous processes to verify supplements.