Supplement manufacturers must be able to produce a quality product using the best ingredients. Third-party testing can directly demonstrate this, but other factors must be considered. Defining quality for supplements can be more complex than for medicines. This is mainly because dietary supplements are often made from natural ingredients.
Distribution
Dietary supplement manufacturing is an incredibly complex industry. It involves multiple steps, including meticulous raw material sourcing and testing, comprehensive production management, and thorough finished product testing and inspection. Without a robust quality control process, a company could produce contaminated or defective supplements, significantly affecting its reputation and customers’ health. The dietary supplement (DS) industry is a mix of contract manufacturers, brand owners, and private-label distributors.
It’s important to know that the DS manufacturer is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all GMP requirements are met in manufacturing, packaging, labeling, holding, and distribution. Choosing a contract manufacturer with a steadfast dedication to quality control is essential. Businesses can rely on companies to create safe and efficient supplements that adhere to all relevant regulations. They also use the latest manufacturing technology to guarantee a rigorous routine for their quality control procedures. This allows them to deliver high-quality products and exceptional customer service consistently.
Raw Materials
Whether natural or synthetic, the ingredients of a supplement can make or break the product’s quality. This is why choosing a supplement manufacturer with solid relationships with raw materials suppliers and access to large volumes of premium quality ingredients is essential. This also includes having a team that can quickly identify issues and make the tough decisions regarding rejecting raw materials or finished products that are out of specification. These are all critical components of a supplement manufacturer’s cGMP compliance program. An alternative solution is to partner with a supplement CDMO, which can manage all aspects of new product development from design to final manufacturing. This will help brands avoid having to work around raw materials that are not suitable and the associated costs of compromising on production timelines or cost increases.
Formulation
The ingredients that make up a supplement must be carefully combined to create the final product. This process requires careful attention to detail and precise measurement, as well as adherence to strict regulations.
Regarding dietary supplements, the law requires manufacturers to follow current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) developed specifically for them. These standards are outlined in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. In addition to ensuring that ingredients are mixed properly, it’s essential to verify that the dosage in each capsule is correct. This can be done through hourly quality control inspections where capsule weights are verified, and potential defects are spotted. The cGMP rules also require that tablets are compressed evenly and that the ingredients in the tablet are consistent from batch to batch. This can be done by comparing each batch to the USP dietary supplement verification program, which maintains a verified ingredient and manufacturer database.
Packaging
Unlike pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements are mainly unregulated, so manufacturers can develop and market their products more freely. However, this also means that quality control must be a top priority for companies looking to impact consumers’ health positively. Packaging is critical in communicating the nutrition and ingredients inside a supplement. Consumers can see the difference between well-designed and poorly-designed packaging, influencing purchase decisions.
Choosing the correct container is essential, and following strict cGMP protocols when creating packaging for nutritional supplements is vital. Bottle shapes and designs can be optimized for market consolidation, while convenience add-ons like scoops, dispensing closures, and dosing devices offer unique opportunities for differentiation. Lastly, using high-quality, tamper-evident labeling that meets cGMP standards is essential. This will prevent counterfeiting and protect against product contamination.