What Is Supplement Stability Testing And Why Your Brand Needs It

10 Aug What Is Supplement Stability Testing And Why Your Brand Needs It

If you manufacture or sell dietary supplements, you already know how competitive and tightly regulated the industry is. But one critical area many brands overlook is stability testing.

Stability testing doesn’t just prove how long your product lasts—it protects your brand, ensures label accuracy, and keeps you compliant with FDA regulations (21 CFR Part 111).

🔬 What Is Supplement Stability Testing?

Supplement stability testing evaluates how well a supplement maintains its potency, purity, and quality over time under specific storage conditions. It helps determine a product’s shelf life and supports the expiration date on your label.

Testing is done under both:

• Real-time conditions (room temperature over time)

• Accelerated conditions (high heat/humidity to simulate aging)

It applies to capsules, powders, gummies, tinctures, softgels, tablets, and liquids.

📋 What Does Supplement Stability Testing Include?

At United Food Labs, we test for:

• Active Ingredient Potency (Assay Testing)
  Verifies if your supplement still meets the listed strength after months or years.

• Microbial Testing
  Checks for harmful bacteria, yeast, and mold growth over time.

• Physical and Chemical Integrity
  Measures changes in color, odor, pH, viscosity, or tablet disintegration.

• Packaging Compatibility
  Ensures the packaging protects your supplement from degradation (light, moisture, oxygen).

• Label Compliance Support
  Data supports accurate expiration dates, as required by FDA and Health Canada.

💡 Why Is Stability Testing Important for Supplement Brands?

1. ✅ Supports Expiration Date Claims
   You must have data to support the shelf life printed on your packaging.

2. 🛡️ Protects Product Efficacy
   Customers expect your supplement to deliver on its label claims—even on the last day of shelf life.

3. 🧾 Ensures Regulatory Compliance
   Under FDA’s 21 CFR 111, you’re required to ensure quality and strength through a product’s labeled shelf life.

4. 🚫 Avoids Recalls and Legal Risk
   Inaccurate potency or microbial growth can lead to product recalls, lawsuits, or FDA warning letters.

5. 📈 Boosts Retail and Consumer Confidence
   Retailers and distributors increasingly ask for shelf life data before carrying new products.

🧪 How Long Does Stability Testing Take?

Typical timelines:

• Accelerated Stability Testing: 3–6 months

• Real-Time Stability Testing: 6–24 months

We can help you begin with accelerated testing while your real-time study is underway.

🔎 Who Needs Supplement Stability Testing?

Stability testing is essential if you are:

• Launching a new supplement product

• Updating formulas, ingredients, or packaging

• Expanding into retail, Amazon, or international markets

• Preparing for FDA inspections or GMP audits

🧬 Work with a Trusted Supplement Testing Lab

At United Food Labs, we offer full-service supplement testing, including:

✅ Stability Studies
✅ Active Ingredient Potency
✅ Microbiological Testing
✅ Shelf Life Validation
✅ Certificate of Analysis (COA)
✅ FDA and Health Canada Compliance Support

We test gummies, powders, tinctures, tablets, capsules, and more.

📞 Ready to Validate Your Supplement Shelf Life?

Protect your brand and give your customers confidence by investing in reliable stability testing. We’ll help you meet FDA compliance, support your label claims, and keep your supplements safe and effective.

📍United Food Labs
📧 info@unitedfoodlabs.com
📞 (818) 749-2751
🌐 unitedfoodlabs.com