Safety

Are You Swallowing Lead, Toxins, Mold or Pesticides?
USP symbol helps wary shoppers separate pure from contaminated supplements

When shopping for vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements, the " USP " symbol, found on the package label can be a good way to be sure you're improving your health - not undermining it.

USP (United States Pharmacopeia ), places it's seal of verification on only those products that have the stated ingredient level, declared strength and purity claimed by the supplement provider.

Why is this important?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not have the resources or necessary clout (as they do in the pharmaceutical industry), to closely control the vast number of products offered to consumers (it's estimated that 151 million Americans swallow $17 billion worth of supplements per year).

As a result, it can be the Wild, Wild West out there - with unscrupulous manufacturers taking advantage of the situation, selling a concoction of adultered products, made in less-than-sterile environments, sometimes containing heavy metals, pesticides, mold, with less-than-stated ingredient content.

According to recent studies, there is a rise in this kind of activity, increasing the value of USP services.

Founded in 1820, United States Pharmacopeia (www.usp.org ) applies "scientific expertise and rigorous standards to the supplement industry", states USP's Chief Operating Officer, John Fowler. "By selecting a supplement with USP's DSVP certification mark, consumers will have greater confidence in the products they purchase."

In order for a supplement product to wear the USP symbol on its packaging, it must be submitted for strenuous testiing and verification.

Four criteria are evaluated:

1. What's on the label is, in fact, in the bottle - all label listed ingredients are available in the stated amounts
2. There are no harmful levels of contaminants, including lead, mercury, pesticides, toxins, molds and other contaminants
3. Bioavailability, or an acceptable level of product breakdown and release into the body is achieved
4. Product manufacturing conforms to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards

Should you buy vitamins, minerals and other supplements that don't display the "USP Dietary Supplement Verified impramateur?

Generally, USP approved products cost no more than un-verified, unsubstantiated supplements, yet remove the risk of health creation from products intended to provide healthy solutions. Given the Wild, Wild West enviroment of today, looking for the USP symbol will at the very least, give you some peace of mind.

Of course DIAB-X is USP certified.