In recent years, doubt and speculation has plagued the vitamin and supplement industry. Concerns over quality have caused consumers to wonder, “Does this magnesium supplement actually contain magnesium?” With the rise of awareness, conscious customers are demanding information on the origins, processes and testing involved in the vitamins they take. Some supplement manufacturers and companies struggle with such transparency, but, luckily, others are starting to jump on board. Sharing “confidential” proprietary information may not have always been the industry standard, but it’s a trend that’s starting to catch on.
Sharing is caring
The Non-GMO Project is a huge proponent leading the industry towards transparency. A non-profit, the Non-GMO Project is the sole third party organization for the verification of non-GMO products in North America. They work with manufacturers, farmers and even seed suppliers to detect genetically modified organisms and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Some natural health companies seek verification from the organization to gain consumer trust. MegaFood, for instance, has over 50 products and 124 verified ingredients verified by the Non-GMO Project. These products were able to be verified without changing the formulas. Whether you’re buying Kid’s One Daily multivitamin, Ultra C-400 or Women’s One Daily multi, you know you’re buying products made of ingredients that are Non-GMO Project Verified.
Mega-transparent
“At MegaFood we can create change in the industry by proving that it's not difficult or scary to peel back the curtain and we will confidently introduce the people behind our great products as well as share our processes from the inside out," said Robert Craven, MegaFood CEO.
MegaFood has stepped up to bat for transparency and hit this one out of the park. The farm fresh supplement company has reached unrivaled levels of honesty and transparency. With their new initiative, known as Big T Transparency, MegaFood strives to remove uncertainty and doubt from the minds of consumers. The company is committed to earning the trust, and preserving the health, of its customers. Offering deep access into its production process, MegaFood is sharing that privileged information considered “confidential” by many other companies.
Initiatives of Big T Transparency
Tours & live streams
Public tours of MegaFood’s facilities are available during its annual “ZingMojo” festival. The festival celebrates fresh, local produce and, in addition to tours of the facility; live music and family activities. For consumers who can’t attend the festival, they have access to live stream footage of MegaFood’s facility that runs 24 hours a day, five days a week available at https://www.megafood.com/LiveCams.
Public audit results
On the MegaFood website, the company plans to share the results of third party audits, conducted by organizations like the FDA and NSF. They will even include videos explaining the results and any improvements that will be made as a result.
Development plans
MegaFood will share information about new, up and coming products. They will showcase key milestones in the new product process including a glimpse into in-house laboratory testing and planning meetings.
Where do you stand?
Would a supplement company’s transparency, or lack thereof, make you switch brands? How important is transparency to you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
