What is GMP by NSF International?
What is GMP anyway? Is it related to GMO or other acronyms in the alphabet soup of life? Well, if you have wondered, “What is GMP,” then we can spell it out for you:
GMP = Good Manufacturing Practices
Simple enough, right? In fact, the GMP regulations are outlined by the FDA, which requires that that dietary supplementation follow quality-assurance practices to minimize the risk of contamination.
What is GMP and Why You Might Care
Now that you have the definition of GMP you might want to know what the heck it means to you … and your nutrition and supplements. So here’s the deal: GMP basically ensures that the products that you buy, use, and consume are as safe as they can be.
One of the most prominent GMP certification companies is NSF International (check out their website at http://www.nsf.org/business/gmp).
NSF International and GMP
To really understand the question, “What is GMP?” take a look at the definition of GMP according to NSF International:
“Good Manufacturing Practices are guidelines that provide a system of processes, procedures, and documentation to assure the product produced has the identity, strength, composition, quality, and purity that it is represented to possess.”
If you visit their website, you will see that they certify all kinds of products, everything from nutritional supplements to fire safety products. That’s a lot of stuff!
What is GMP and How You Eat
If you take nutritional supplements and dietary supplements, check whether the company that makes these products has a GMP registration. If they do, you can rest assured that these products are created under the safest conditions possible.
For instance, my favorite company that makes amazing AFA Blue Green Algae products, is proud is announce that their Klamath, OR facility has achieved GMP registration from NSF International. That’s a big “Yahoo!” for all of us who eat, love, and thrive on the blue-green algae products.
NSF International and GMP for Sport
This company also garnered a secondary registration from NSF International: GMP for Sport. Because professional athletes have to be careful about avoiding banned substances, NSF International created a new program just for these people. According to NSF International’s website:
“This new NSF program is a focused solution designed to minimize the risk that a dietary supplement or sports nutrition product contains banned substances … This program, which focuses primarily on the sports supplement manufacturing and sourcing process, provides key preventive measures to:
- Protect against adulteration of products
- Verify label claims with product contents
- Identify athletic banned substances in the finished product or ingredients”
If you are an athlete taking these blue green algae products, then the NSF International registration for Sport means that you can feel safer about taking these products before, during, and after competition. The same is true if you feed these products to show animals, such as horses, dogs, and cats.
One final note: In addition to being registered by NSF International, this company also holds organic, kosher, and halal certifications. That means their products are not only good and good for you … they are certified six ways to Sunday!
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