The online survey conducted in July 2021 on behalf of NSF International polled a representative sample of 1,000 Americans about their attitudes and behaviours related to dietary supplements, personal care products and OTC drugs. The margin of error for the study is +/-3.1% at a 95% confidence level.
Under U.S. federal regulations, manufacturers of dietary supplements and OTC drugs are required to comply with current good manufacturing practices (GMPs), but they are not required to provide proof of GMP compliance before shipping products. Recently, however, several major retailers and online shopping platforms have begun requiring brands and manufacturers to provide proof of GMP compliance and other quality assurance requirements. The new study suggests Americans want retailers to go beyond what’s required by law and conduct their own due diligence audits of manufacturing facilities.
“Failure to comply with GMPs can lead to a host of quality and safety issues. You can get cross-contamination of products, mislabeled products, inaccurate formulations and generally unhygienic conditions,” Trosin said. “Everyone in the industry understands the importance of good manufacturing practices and now it’s clear consumers are concerned about this too.”
According to the survey, 95% of consumers have concerns about the quality and safety of dietary supplements, personal care products and OTC drugs. When asked what would make them trust these products more, 62% said “independent certification from a health and safety organization” and 61% said, “made in a facility that has been inspected for good manufacturing practices.” About 44% said “lab testing by the retailer” would help build their trust in supplements and personal care products. Only 14% said “advertising on TV” helps build their trust in products. “Social media comments” and “celebrity endorsements” were identified as building trust by just 17% of consumers.
Other highlights from the survey include:
• While consumers are concerned about product safety and quality, only 48% said they research dietary supplement product claims themselves and just 39% said they research personal care products and OTC product claims.
While 85% of consumers want retailers to test the health and wellness products they sell, only 32% think retailers actually do this.
The survey data points to the increasing demand for independent product testing and GMP auditing. “We envision a future when most major retailers will require brands to show proof of product quality in some form or another, whether through independent assurance of GMP compliance, independent laboratory testing of products or both,” Trosin said.