WTF is GMP?

WTF is GMP?

Testing, testing.

tl; dr ... Short and to the Point
Who is this article aimed at?
Anybody who wonders what these 'cGMP' or 'GMP' icons you see on supplement packaging actually mean.
I am busy - summarize it for me

Do you want your supplements hand mixed by some Vietnamese guy out in his garden in the suburbs of Hanoi? Right, well start paying attention to where they are manufactured then. This article explains what GMP actually means and why you should be saying Không to products that haven't been produced in GMP maufacturing facilities.

Rules is rules

Natural supplements have never been more popular and it’s not hard to see why. A properly produced, organic addition to your fitness regime can bring serious benefits without the risks of harmful side effects.

Unfortunately, anything that’s popular will always attract unscrupulous characters looking to cash in.

Thanks to the focus on all-natural ingredients, there plenty of chancers out there that think all you need are a few random herbs and a blender to get in on the supplement boom.

So how can you tell the legit from the sh*t?  Is there a quick way to make sure you’re not downing some kid’s ‘muscle boosting’ moonshine, fresh from mom’s basement?

Well, a good start is making sure a supplement is GMP certified.

What is GMP?

GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. As you can probably guess from the name, it’s the list of requirements which must be met in the production of supplements before they’re officially safe for consumers to take.

Though GMP varies slightly from country to country and the standards are by enforced by different regulatory bodies, they are broadly similar when it comes to safety.

GMP in the U.S, GMP-E.U in Europe and the Medicines Act in the U.K all take their lead for the World Health Organization’s rules for the production of pharmaceuticals.

What are GMPs?

In common with most official guidelines, GMP requirements are exhaustive and as dry as a Bill Murray joke in the desert. So we’ll spare you all every single one of rules.

These are the main principles you’ll find across different versions to make sure we don’t get any nasty surprises.

  • Premises must maintain a clean and hygienic manufacturing area.
  • The environment must be strictly controlled to avoid cross contamination with anything else on location.
  • Production processes must be clearly defined, controlled and consistent with product specifications.
  • Any changes to the product or processes of making it are to be officially evaluated and endorsed.
  • Cross contamination with any unlabeled major allergens will be prevented.
  • Detailed records are kept of each step in the production process to ensure it is done correctly.
  • Manufacturing staff are fully trained to carry out production and documentation
  • Records of production and distribution will be kept to provide a traceable history of each product batch.
  • Directions for use of the product are in clear, understandable language.
  • Complaints about the product will be fully investigated and steps taken to avoid future problems.

The records in question relate to batch numbers, this enables manufacturers to issue product recalls should any problems come to light once a batch has been shipped and is already on the shelves.

Testing

The guidelines above cover the manufacture of all food stuffs. What is useful from a supplement point of view is that cGMP requirements also ensure that there is rigorous Quality Assurance methodology. So batches undergo random testing to ensure that the formula has been sufficiently well mixed so that each capsule has the correct dosage as listed on the bottle.

This in turn ensures that you cannot end up taking too much of one component of a formula if the contents of the capsule wasn’t mixed properly in the production process.

Safety first.

GMP means A-OK?

GMP certification is a strong start when it comes to trusting a supplement. It helps separate the good products from the Breaking Bad ones as far as manufacture goes.

However that doesn’t make it an automatic Best In Show rosette. Safe doesn’t equal effective, so just because you won’t die it doesn’t mean you won’t be disappointed.

You’ll still have a bit of leg work to do research wise when it comes to choosing a fat burner or T booster. Quality of formula, value for money etc.

Don’t fancy that? We don’t blame you, head over to our review section and you’ll find all the info you need to make the right choices for the best results.

The Takeaway

Don’t even consider taking a supplement that hasn’t been manufactured in cGMP certified premises. It’s not worth the risk.

tl; dr ... Short and to the Point
Who is this article aimed at?
Anybody who wonders what these 'cGMP' or 'GMP' icons you see on supplement packaging actually mean.
I am busy - summarize it for me

Do you want your supplements hand mixed by some Vietnamese guy out in his garden in the suburbs of Hanoi? Right, well start paying attention to where they are manufactured then. This article explains what GMP actually means and why you should be saying Không to products that haven't been produced in GMP maufacturing facilities.