Why Third-Party Testing Matters in Children’s Supplements

A supplement label is important. But a label is still a statement from the company that made the product.

I want another layer of information: What did testing of the finished product actually show?

Potency: is what we expect actually there?

Potency testing helps evaluate whether measured nutrient amounts are consistent with what the product is intended to provide.

That matters because manufacturing is a real process. Ingredients are weighed, blended, packaged, stored, and eventually used by families. I want quality checks on the product that comes out of that process—not only specifications on the raw materials going in.

Contaminants matter too

Depending on the product, testing can also look for contaminants such as heavy metals, including lead. The exact testing panel should make sense for the ingredients and product type.

This does not mean a “third-party tested” badge automatically tells you everything. Parents should be able to ask: Who tested it? What was tested? Was it the finished product? Is current batch information available?

“Third-party tested” can mean different things

One company may test only raw ingredients. Another may test the finished batch. One may verify identity and potency, while another may also test for heavy metals, microbes, or other contaminants.

That is why I prefer specifics over badges. I want to know what was actually measured.

What research has found

Published studies have found substantial label inaccuracies in some categories of dietary supplements. For example, a 2022 analysis of 30 supplements marketed for immune support found that 17 had inaccurate labels. A separate 2024 study of 30 weight-loss supplements found 25 had inaccurate labels.

Those studies were not studies of children’s multivitamins, so I would not use them to claim that most children’s supplements are mislabeled. That would be overstating the evidence.

What they do show is that label accuracy cannot simply be assumed across the entire supplement marketplace. That is why verification matters.

Why the finished product matters

Raw ingredient testing is valuable, but it does not tell you everything about what comes out of the manufacturing process.

Ingredients can interact. Powders can blend unevenly. Nutrients can degrade. Packaging and storage conditions matter. The finished product is what the child actually takes, so that is the product I care most about verifying.

Why potency matters over time

A supplement also has to survive shipping, storage, and time on a shelf. Some nutrients are more sensitive than others.

Responsible formulation may account for expected changes over shelf life so that the product continues to meet label expectations when families actually use it.

What third-party testing cannot tell you

Testing is important, but it does not answer every question.

A laboratory can help verify identity, potency, or contaminants. It does not tell you whether a child needs the product, whether the dose is appropriate for that child, whether the formula fits the child’s diet, or whether the product will actually be used consistently.

Testing is one layer of quality—not the whole story.

Why we show our testing

This one came from my own supplement shelf. As I got smarter about supplements, I realized many companies either were not testing finished products or were not making the results easy to see. Then one of the adult brands I take started posting its test results right on its website. I remember thinking, this is how it should be. If I want that for my own supplements, parents deserve it for their children’s. That is why we post ours.

I believe transparency is more useful than a vague promise. For Dr. Good's products, our goal is to test finished products for relevant quality measures—including potency and contaminants—and make current testing information available to parents when possible.

That is the standard I want when I am choosing something for my own children.

What I would ask any supplement company

If a parent wants to go one step deeper, I think these are fair questions:

Was the finished product tested?
Was the laboratory independent?
Was potency checked?
Were relevant contaminants checked?
Can the company provide current results?

You do not need to become a chemist. You just need enough transparency to know that quality is being taken seriously.

My bottom line

Trust should be supported by evidence.

A thoughtful formula matters. So does verifying the finished product. I do not expect parents to inspect every batch like a scientist—but I do think companies should make it easier for them to see what was tested and why.

— Dr. Katie Good, MD

Sources & further reading

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. If you have questions about your child’s nutrition, supplements, growth, medications, or laboratory results, talk with your child’s pediatrician or healthcare professional.

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