Our Supplement Brand of Choice and Why

One of the most surprising discoveries I made as an NTA student was just how common supplement issues are. Sure, I knew scams existed—that comes with the health and wellness territory—but I didn’t realize how frequently people end up purchasing fake, mislabeled, or low-potency supplements.

Why You Should Regard Vitamin Supplements with Skepticism

Vitamins and supplements sound great—boosting immunity, filling gaps, improving health—but the truth is less shiny. The supplement industry is loosely regulated, and fraud is common. Here’s why a healthy dose of skepticism is warranted.

1. Weak Oversight

Unlike prescription drugs, supplements don’t need FDA approval before they hit the market. Manufacturers are responsible for their own testing, but inspections are rare. That means mislabeled or contaminated products can reach shelves unchecked.

2. Potency Problems

Independent testing shows many supplements don’t contain what they claim. NOW Foods tested 33 berberine products on Amazon—30 failed, and some had less than 1% of the stated dose. Counterfeit and adulterated products are widespread, especially online.

3. Hidden Risks

Fraudulent supplements have been found with undeclared allergens, pharmaceutical drugs, and heavy metals. Even packaging can mislead—fake products sometimes mimic trusted brands while containing nothing but rice flour.

4. Real-World Consequences

Bad supplements aren’t just a waste of money—they can harm health. Vulnerable groups like pregnant women, older adults, or those with chronic illness face greater risks if they’re misled by false labels or hidden ingredients.

What Makes a Supplement Brand Trustworthy

Given these risks, what should you look for as a practitioner or consumer to guarantee (as much as possible) safety, quality, and value?

• Third-party testing / certifications (NSF, USP, UL, ISO accredited labs, etc.) that verify potency, purity, identity, contaminants.

• Transparency about ingredients, lab testing results, batch/lot numbers, source of ingredients.

• Good Manufacturing Practices / cGMP compliance, including quality control labs (on site or well-trusted) and oversight of contract manufacturers.

• Recall responsiveness / voluntary recalls when problems are discovered.

• Brand integrity—how a company responds when fraud or counterfeit is discovered, how active they are in policing fraud, how they educate consumers.

  
  

The Case for NOW Foods: Why the NTA and Pathfinder Nutritional Therapy Likes Them So Much

The NOW Foods brand is a favorite because they are both trustworthy and affordable. They take quality seriously, running their own ISO-certified lab, getting their products third-party tested, and even voluntarily recalling products when something doesn’t meet their standards. They also work hard to make sure their products aren’t counterfeited, keeping packaging, lot numbers, and labels consistent so you know you’re getting the real deal. On top of that, their supplements are widely available and reasonably priced, making it easy for everyday people to access professional-level products. For anyone who cares about safety, transparency, and good nutrition, NOW is a brand you can feel confident using.

Other Brands that the NTA stands by are:

Biotics Research

Mountain Rose Herbs

Wise Woman Herbals

Thorne

Designs for Health

Conclusion

Vitamins and supplements are not magical cures, and in many cases, the “supplement” you think you’re buying might not live up to its label. The industry has real issues: mislabeling, fraud, adulteration, misleading claims, and weak enforcement.

Because of that, practitioners and consumers should look for trustworthy brands that invest in testing, transparency, recall action, supply chain integrity, and that safeguard their customers. NOW Foods, based on available public information, performs strongly in many of these areas—making them a brand many practitioners (including NTA / Pathfinder) reasonably trust and recommend.