Qualifying Quality: Can Your CMO Walk the Talk?

Partnering with a Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) to pluck a product idea from your imagination to store shelves seems like a no-brainer. Why risk massive capital expenditure or decades of indebtedness to manufacture one product that may (you hope) be a success.

While you are likely to spend countless hours considering their capabilities and capacity to scale, the foundation of any venture with a CMO starts with an understanding of their devotion to quality, reliability, and safety.

We've put together a simple list of regulatory registrations that are common among Nutritional Supplement manufacturers and a short description of their role. If you work with other regulatory bodies you feel are crucial, feel free to add them in the comments section below. 

cGMP Certified by NSF International (website: nsf.org)
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are guidelines that provide a system of processes, procedures, and documentation to assure a product has the “identity, strength, composition, quality and purity that appear on its label.” These GMP requirements are listed in Section 8 of NSF/ANSI 173 - the only American National Standard in the dietary supplement industry.

NSF International certifies that the product or organization displaying the cGMP certification it has been tested by one of the most respected independent certification companies in existence today that ensures public health, safety and environmental quality.

Also, not every manufacturer displays the "c" in front of their GMP designation. The "c" is crucial as it stands for "current." GMP regulations take a long time to change. So the "c" designation indicates this facility adopts best practices that are "in the pipeline" long before the practice becomes a regulation.

“Non-GMO” by the Non-GMO Project (website: nonGMOProject.org)
GMO is an acronym for “genetically modified organisms” that are created in a laboratory using genetic modification/engineering techniques. Scientists and consumer and environmental groups have cited many health and environmental risks with consumables containing GMOs.

The Non-GMO Project is a mission-driven nonprofit organization offering a third-party non-GMO verification program to the growing group of consumers who want to avoid GMO ingredients in the products they consume.

The credibility that comes with Non-GMO Project verification assures consumers that any product with the non-GMO “butterfly” logo meets the best practices for GMO avoidance.

Kosher Certified by Star-K (website: star-k.org) 
Millions of consumers worldwide follow strict dietary guidelines spelled out by their religion of choice. Of the nearly 900 certifications that are available, the STAR-K has emerged as a leader and innovator for Kosher certification in today's dynamic food industry.

The STAR-K emblem is recognized as a gold standard in Kosher certification enables manufacturers and distributors access to a significant marketplace which might otherwise be unapproachable.

FDA-registered USA production facility and FDA-registered providers and vendors

If identifying as an American manufacturer and doing business in American marketplaces is important to you, then registering your facility with the US Food & Drug Administration is a required box that must be checked.

While these are just a handful of the most recognized certifications and recognitions, the contract manufacturer you are considering, or already working with, should fortify industry standards with their own set of internal standards for quality assurance and quality control. 

If you are looking for a contract manufacturer to bring your product idea to brick and mortar or e-marketplaces – or are unsure your current CMO is adhering to industry standards – contact Paul Kenfield, our contract manufacturing customer service representative via email at paul@vestanutra.com or toll-free at 888-55-VESTA.