What Is NSF Certification—and Why Does It Matter?

With more than 85,000 supplements on the market, it can be difficult for consumers to know which companies to trust and identify products that are safe and effective. This is why third-party testing from the likes of NSF is essential. In this article, we’ll explore what the NSF is, how its multi-stage certification process works, and why supplements that are NSF Certified for Sport® give you peace of mind.

What Is NSF and How Is It Cleaning Up the Supplement Industry?

Founded in 1944, NSF is an independent international organization that provides rigorous product testing, auditing, and certification in 180 countries. It created the NSF/ANSI 173 standard for supplements and then developed the NSF Certified for Sport® program, which has become the gold standard in sports and is the only third-party certification trusted by USADA, Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National Hockey League (NHL).

The NSF’s initiatives are helping combat the problems caused by low-grade supplements that aren’t third-party tested.

“Products containing banned substances can cause pro or college athletes to fail drug tests,” said Momentous VP of Product Matt Chorney. “Contamination jeopardizes the health of all consumers, while false label claims make it difficult to meet macronutrient and calorie needs and get a clinically effective dose of micronutrients. NSF testing and certification address all these issues and are a rubber stamp for purity and quality.”

Why Should Supplements Be Third-Party Tested?

Many supplement companies rely on manufacturers’ certificates of analysis to demonstrate purity. Although this is useful to verify their processes, thorough third-party testing must go outside the supply chain to examine the quality and integrity of all ingredients and the final formulation. Only then can customers have full confidence in what they’re ingesting.

There are several organizations that test supplements, but stringent protocols and a repeatable methodology set the NSF apart. The organization’s Certified for Sport® program includes strict criteria for:

• Product testing for banned substances

• Formulation and label review

• Production facility and supplier inspections

• Ongoing monitoring

“Momentous was founded to provide elite athletes with the finest supplements and to bring this same level of trust, transparency, and efficacy to everyone,” Chorney said. “To redefine the supplement industry, we needed to pursue true third-party testing to validate the purity, quality, and efficacy of our products. NSF’s testing and certification program is the most rigorous and comprehensive.”

Inside the NSF Certified for Sport® Process

Here’s how NSF tests and certifies a supplement in the Certified for Sport ® program, and what happens if it fails to meet a requirement:

• Before individual product testing begins, NSF verifies that the manufacturer’s facilities meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.

• NSF evaluates the product’s contents to ensure that what is on the label is actually inside the container. This includes a full screening of all ingredients and evaluation of their suppliers before the product is blended.

• Once the supplement provider has finalized their formula, blended it, and provided samples to NSF, the product is quarantined for testing for four to six weeks and cannot be released for sale or distribution.

• A technical review verifies the label claim for each ingredient and the overall formulation.

• Testing determines that there are no harmful levels of heavy metals, pesticides, or other contaminants.

• A toxicology report also ensures that certain ingredients like caffeine don’t exceed predetermined ranges. If they do, an additional warning label might be required.

• The product is tested for 280 substances banned by anti-doping agencies like WADA and professional sports leagues.

• Each packaging lot of the product is audited and tested. If a new raw material is introduced, two or more ingredient batches are used, or different equipment is utilized, the new lot must be assessed.

• A product that meets every requirement is designated NSF Certified for Sport®.

If a supplement contains banned substances or contaminants, it must be discarded. Whereas when such purity tests are passed but the product fails on a label claim – such as a 20-gram serving of protein only containing 18 grams – it can be reformulated or relabeled and then submitted for retesting. 

Elevating Quality and Transparency Standards 

Dieticians in the NCAA and many pro leagues can only provide and recommend products that are NSF Certified for Sport®, so Momentous hitting this mark enables them to do so with confidence. The company’s continued investment in third-party certification has led to its products being used in almost 200 professional and college sports locker rooms.

“Pursuing NSF Certified for Sport® required Momentous to make a significant financial commitment,” Chorney said. “We’ve also had to navigate stocking and back ordering speed bumps along the way, due to the four-to-six-week timeline that lot testing takes. However, we believe this is a small price to pay to demonstrate our dedication to quality control and ensure that our products support customers’ performance, recovery, and health.”

Less than 5% of supplement brands achieve NSF Certified for Sport® status. Fewer still follow the path Momentous is taking by pursuing certification for its entire product line. This approach encourages other companies to provide their customers with full transparency.

“By taking the voluntary but vital step of third-party certification, we don’t merely fulfill the promises of the Momentous Standard, but also hope to raise the bar for the entire industry,” Chorney said. “For anyone seeking safe, effective, and high-quality supplements, NSF Certified for Sport® removes the guesswork and shows which companies you can trust.”