So maybe you've heard fish oil is good for you. Maybe you've heard it's good for your brain and reduces inflammation, whatever that means. And as a result the next time you came across a bottle at your local Target, you bought the cheapest or cutest one you could find from a seemingly reputable brand. After all, we can definitely trust Target’s products, right? (Wrong! But we’ll get into that. ;)) Or perhaps, you took a different approach. Maybe you got nerdy with it and started Googling the best, highest-quality fish oils on the market. You found some cheaper, mid-tier, or even high-priced options. You decided on one of the high-priced bottles from a fancy company that claims to run multiple tests on its product, so now you feel certain you've purchased a high-quality fish oil.
Well, unfortunately, I'm here to tell you one thing for certain: regardless of price, company, or label design, unless the product is third-party certified for purity, it is likely laden with contaminants such as heavy metals, bacteria and mold. Not only could these products be filled with impurities, but they could also be made of something entirely different from what is advertised. This is called adulteration. Let’s look at an example.
Let’s say Target is selling a product labeled as echinacea. You buy the bottle, excited to reap the benefits. However, even though the bottle claims to contain 200 mg of the herb known for its immunity-boosting effects, what you’ve actually purchased is powdered corn. That’s right—you paid money for absolutely nothing. Or, well, for powdered corn. This actually happened, by the way.
Now, in case you thought it couldn't get more sinister than blatantly lying about what you're being sold... tragically the deceit doesn't end there. Both large and small companies have been found knowingly selling products contaminated with toxic substances. And these aren’t just minor players—let’s look at a few major offenders:
Gerber Baby Food, Lead contamination
Johnson and Johnson baby powder, Asbestos
Nestle, excess lead in magi noodles
Quaker Oats childrens cereal, Glyphosate (weed killer)
Dupon, Teflon poisoning hundreds of thousands of people
In each of these cases, these companies had ample resources to ensure their products were safe—yet they failed to protect their consumers. And while larger companies may knowingly cut corners, smaller businesses often lack the resources to identify contamination in their own products. This is why it’s so critical for companies, big and small, to have their products third-party certified.
So, what exactly does third-party certification mean? Ah! Great question. It’s when a company that truly values quality and safety sends its products to an unbiased, independent organization that tests for purity and authenticity. At Inanna Certifications, we’re committed to making these essential services affordable, even for the smallest tea, tincture, and supplement makers, while maintaining rigorous standards that keep consumers safe. We work closely with each company, offering thorough testing without breaking the bank—leveling the playing field between small businesses and big brands. (More on these details in subsequent articles.) This article is by no means exhaustive; it’s just a starting point to highlight why consumers need to be selective. We deserve better, safer, and higher-quality products. So let’s start demanding transparency for our health. With Inanna Certifications, we’re here to make that possible.
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