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What Those Words on the Label Mean

GMP-Certified:  Short for “Certified Good Manufacturing Practices”, this conveys that a set of strict quality standards that ensure purity, safety, consistency and traceability has been followed during production.  For example, each capsule must have the same amount of active ingredients as what’s listed on the product label. Its ingredients are traceable, meaning every raw material (and finished product) can be traced back to its source of origin. Certified GMP facilities are also quality-controlled, meaning processes are documented, monitored and verified through audits and testing. Finally, these manufacturing plants are routinely inspected by government agencies, such as by Health Canada. 

Even though “Certified GMP” on the label is an assurance of purity, reliability and trust, supplement manufacturers should choose to go above and beyond these requirements if they want to meet consumers’ demands for truly clean products. Here’s how:

Third-Party Tested:  Heavy metals, bacteria and moulds don’t belong in a natural health product, yet government health agencies do not require manufacturers to check their ingredients or finished products for these contaminants. This kind of testing is completely optional.  “Third-party tested” means an independent laboratory has verified what’s in the product and what’s not- - ideally before and after the ingredients are combined into a finished product. The lab will identify and measure the active ingredients as well as any contaminants they find and report this information back to the manufacturer - - who can then choose what to do with it.

At Pure Lab Vitamins, we quarantine each incoming raw material until test results from the independent lab come back. These tests include an active ingredient assay, heavy metal panel and microbial panel. If all tests come back within our tough specifications, the raw material gets released into production. But that’s not all; we're not done until the active ingredient gets tested again to make sure that capsules are equally filled and contain what they are supposed to. We also have them tested again for microbes in case any contamination occurred during the production process.

Only if all these tests come in favourable will we release a new batch for sale. 

Made In Canada: More than ever, Canadians are choosing to buy products that are manufactured in Canada instead of other countries, and this includes supplements. Even though products made in Canada are permitted to include up to 49 percent foreign-sourced ingredients (since not all product ingredients are available domestically), buying supplements that feature a “Made In Canada” logo supports Canadian jobs, businesses and communities, has environmental benefits, and so much more. 

Excipient-Free: Also known as ‘additive-free’, excipient-free supplements contain nothing but the active (medicinal) ingredient you’re looking for—no fillers, preservatives, colours, flavours, et cetera. The benefits? Excipient-free products typically require lower dosing (in the case of powders), with fewer or smaller capsules needed to achieve a therapeutic benefit.  This purity makes them more accessible to sensitive individuals and allergic individuals. Just bear in mind that not all natural health products can be made without excipients, for practicality reasons – and that not all excipients are ‘bad’.

Non-Medicinal Ingredients:  This section of the label is where you’ll find any excipients used in the product: flavours, colours, sweeteners, binders, fillers, lubricants, stabilizers, et cetera. Although it would be ideal if only the active (i.e. health-supporting) ingredient was needed, support ingredients are often needed to help maintain stability, potency, or even make the product more desirable or easier to take. Consider that the capsule itself is a non-medicinal but necessary ingredient; the flavour or a sweetener for a liquid, powder or chewable tablet improve palatability and ease of use, et cetera.  The fewer non-medicinal ingredients, the better, except in the cases in which these ingredients have a special benefit - - such as in the case of the ‘slow release’ ingredient ‘hypromellose SR agent’ —a fiber that, when mixed in with the active ingredient(s) of a product, help it provide longer lasting benefits.  Note that natural health products sold in Canada must list each of their non-medicinal ingredients.

“Contains No…” If you have allergies or sensitivities, this statement will help you identify if the product is right for you. If a food or other substance is listed after the “Contains No” statement, then the final product is guaranteed to be free of it.  If you have a severe allergy to a substance and you don’t see that item on the list, please don’t take any chances: don’t use the product. Not seeing it listed doesn’t mean that the product is made from this item, however, it means one or more ingredient manufacturers cannot guarantee that there is no cross-contamination by that item.

Vegan: This indicates the product doesn’t contain any animal-derived ingredients, including the capsule itself. Even if you are not following a vegetarian lifestyle, if you are avoiding pork, beef or fish for religious, spiritual or allergy reasons, the words “Product is Vegan” provides the reassurance you may be looking for.