Informed Sport vs NSF: Comparing Sport Certifications

Informed Sport is a global testing and supplement certification program which provides assurance to consumers that products carrying the Informed Sport mark have been tested for prohibited substances and manufactured to high-quality standards.

Informed Sport tests every single batch of a product before it's released to market. After certification, it continues to carry out blind tests to further ensure the integrity and the safety of products.

Research has shown that some supplement products may be contaminated with low levels of steroids, stimulants or other substances which are prohibited by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and other sporting bodies. Studies have also found anywhere from 14% to 50% of supplement samples analyzed to have tested positive for anabolic agents or other prohibited substances.

Informed Sport aims to work closely with supplement manufacturers and suppliers by providing high-quality analytical testing and certified supplements to minimize the incidence of product contamination and banned substances finding their way into sport.

The Informed Sport program was established in 2008 by one of the world's leading doping control laboratories, LGC Assure. Although LGC has been testing supplements since 2002, it became clear that there was a need for a comprehensive certification program that not only tested products for banned substances but also ensured that manufacturing facilities had the highest quality standards.

To achieve the Informed Sport certification, a product goes through a four-stage process that includes:

• Stage 1: Product and manufacturing review - product ingredients are reviewed and quality systems and audits assessed.
  

• Stage 2: Pre-certification sample testing - a minimum of three finished product samples are sent to the supplement testing labs to be tested using the accredited prohibited substances supplement screen. 

• Stage 3: Product certification, logo use, and web listing - once stages one and two are complete and any resulting actions have been closed out, the product will be accepted for certification with Informed Sport. 

• Stage 4: Post-certification requirements and testing. Once certification is awarded, Informed Sport continues to blind test samples with a high frequency of testing to safeguard against banned substances. 

NSF is an independent and accredited non-governmental organization whose mission is to protect and improve global human health. It does this by leading the development of public health and safety standards and by testing and certifying products and systems to those standards.

While many third-party certification programs have only been in business for a relatively short period, NSF dates back to 1944. It started as the National Sanitation Foundation, evaluating the cleanliness of water fountains and lunch preparation equipment. In the decades since, NSF has expanded its scope to a broad range of public health and safety-based risk management solutions. Globally, the company employs 2,700 specialists that includes microbiologists, toxicologists, and chemists who pursue a science-based approach.

NSF Certified for Sport testing is a three-stage process that involves:

• Step 1: GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Certification - this step verifies that the product is manufactured, packaged, and stored in a facility that is audited annually or bi-annually in compliance with federal regulations for dietary supplements.

• Step 2: Contents Tested and Certified Certification - NSF experts evaluate the contents of the supplement. They then test the finished product to verify that it contains no unsafe levels of contaminants and meets the claims and contents shown on the product label.

• Step 3: Production lots are then tested to ensure they are free from 290 banned substances. NSF experts continue to integrate newly banned substances to ensure they are on the cutting edge of banned substance testing in the marketplace. At this point, the Certified for Sport mark can be shown on the product label.

Informed Sport and NSF both have strong reputations for being the world’s leading third-party certification programs using processes that are grounded in science-led screening, research, development, and testing. The key differences between them largely lie in their respective histories and areas of specialty.

Informed Sport is solely focused on testing products intended for use in competitive sports. Products are tested in its anti-doping laboratory for contamination against a wide range of banned substances in sport. It is a process that has been developed with 60 years of expertise in anti-doping in sport to provide athletes, coaches, and consumers with 100% confidence in products bearing its mark.

NSF, with its origins in public health and sanitation, has a broader scope and tests not just products intended for use in sports, but also functional foods, cosmetics, and personal care products. Its Certified for Sport certification process is its sports-specific testing program. 

If one of our products doesn't carry a certification, it doesn't mean it's of a lower-quality—we’re incredibly passionate about our sourcing. It just means the nature of some products often makes them ineligible for NSF and Informed Sport certifications. We always advise customers, especially athletes, to look for the certification logo on our product pages or contact us directly with any questions.

Whether your goal is to be an elite athlete or to lead a healthy, active lifestyle, we know that what you put into your body matters.

We think going the extra mile by getting NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport certifications is worth the extra work. We believe that these logos on our packaging prove we're willing to work just as hard as you to reach peak performance.

As strength training expert and Momentous advisor Tim Caron says:

“NSF provides a service that makes companies hold themselves to a higher standard and the process to go through that is very rigorous. Having that peace of mind knowing that a company went that extra step to really follow through, has integrity, and makes sure they’re providing really high-quality products makes a big difference. As an athlete or someone who’s competitive, NSF certification is something you should really look for in your supplements.”