Informed Choice Certification (LGC Group) Explained and Why Third-Party Testing Matters in Supplements

If you’ve ever wondered whether your supplement is actually what the label says, you’re not overthinking it.

Most people assume the basics are guaranteed: the ingredient list is accurate, the dose is correct, and the product is free from contaminants. But the supplement world doesn’t always work that way, especially when it comes to supplement contamination, inadvertent cross-contact during manufacturing, and the reality that “tested once” is not the same as “tested consistently.”

At Sahara Supplements, we see this confusion daily, which is why we believe supplement quality should be explained, not assumed. 

This is why third-party verification programs exist, programs like Informed Choice certification, backed by LGC Group testing, a global leader in anti-doping and analytical science.

In this guide, we’ll walk through what Informed Choice is, how it works, and why this standard matters for athletes and non-athletes, health-conscious families, coaches, and quality-focused buyers (Muslim and non-Muslim alike).

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The supplement quality gap: why many products fail quality standards

Not all quality issues are dramatic. Most are boring, and that’s the problem.

Common ways supplements fall short

1) Cross-contamination happens.
Facilities may manufacture many products on shared equipment. Without strong controls, trace residues can carry over into the next run.

2) Raw material variability is real.
Ingredients like botanicals and cocoa can vary naturally based on soil and sourcing. That matters when people are concerned about heavy metals in protein powder and other impurities.

3) “Meets GMP” doesn’t mean “banned-substance screened.”
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are foundational, but they don’t automatically equal athlete-grade screening or ongoing retail monitoring.

4) Labels can be misleading, even unintentionally.
The U.S. FDA does not “approve” dietary supplements before they’re sold, and companies are responsible for ensuring safety and label compliance.

The result: quality ranges from excellent to questionable, and consumers often can’t tell the difference by looking at the front of the tub.

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The risks people worry about (and why “it won’t happen to me” isn’t a strategy)

Two concerns consistently show up in conversations about supplement safety:

1) Banned or prohibited substances

For competitive athletes, trace contamination can become a serious issue. Research and anti-doping organizations have repeatedly highlighted contamination risk as a pathway to inadvertent doping.

Even if you’re not tested for sport, banned-substance risk is really a quality system issue: it’s a sign that controls and verification may be weak.

2) Unwanted contaminants (including heavy metals)

Investigations and studies have found that some protein powders can contain measurable levels of metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, or mercury, often tied to agricultural inputs and supply chain variability.

This isn’t a reason to panic or avoid supplements entirely. It is a reason to choose brands that take verification seriously and can explain what they test, how often, and why.

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What is Informed Choice certification?

Informed Choice is a global quality assurance and third-party supplement testing program designed to reduce the risk of dietary supplements being contaminated with prohibited or unsafe substances. It was established in 2007 by LGC, a world-recognized anti-doping laboratory and testing authority.

If you see an Informed Choice quality mark, it indicates the product has gone through:

• a pre-certification review of the product and manufacturing controls, and
  

• ongoing testing designed to minimize contamination risk.
  
  

Who is LGC Group?

LGC is a long-standing science and laboratory organization with deep roots in anti-doping and analytical testing. Their “INFORMED” certification family (which includes Informed Choice and Informed Sport) is positioned as athlete-trusted assurance built on decades of anti-doping experience.

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How LGC Group testing works in Informed Choice

Informed Choice is not just a one-time stamp. The program combines pre-certification assessment with ongoing post-certification testing.

Step 1 — Manufacturing facility and ingredient assessment

Before certification, Informed Choice reviews the ingredient list and conducts a manufacturing assessment designed to evaluate contamination risk and quality systems.

Step 2 — Pre-certification sample testing

As part of pre-certification, the program tests multiple samples across multiple production runs (commonly described as testing three samples across at least three batches/production runs).

Step 3 — Certification and the Informed Choice quality mark

If the product and facility meet requirements and testing shows no indication of banned-substance contamination, the product can carry the Informed Choice mark.

Step 4 — Ongoing “blind” retail monitoring

After certification, Informed Choice includes monthly blind testing of products purchased from retail outlets to help ensure continued integrity over time.

What does it test for?

Informed Choice is designed to minimize the risk of contamination with prohibited substances. LGC notes testing for 250+ banned substances within the program’s scope.

Important nuance: Informed Choice is best understood as a banned-substance contamination risk-reduction program with ongoing monitoring. Brands that care about broader purity typically layer Informed Choice with separate heavy metal, microbial, and identity testing as part of a full quality system.

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Informed Choice vs. “elite” batch testing (and why that matters)

You may also hear about Informed Sport, another LGC-backed program. The key difference is frequency:

• Informed Sport: tests every batch/lot before release.
  

• Informed Choice: emphasizes ongoing retail monitoring and regular testing to reduce contamination risk.
  

Historically, the highest-frequency “every batch” approach has been most common in professional or heavily regulated sport environments, where strict liability and testing are part of the job.

But here’s the shift: everyday consumers are now asking for the same transparency athletes expect, especially when buying a clean protein powder, banned substance free protein, or products that support routine health and performance.

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Why this level of testing matters even if you’re not a pro athlete

Even if you’ll never take a doping test, third-party testing matters for four very practical reasons:

1) It reduces “unknown unknowns”

Most people don’t have the time (or expertise) to audit a supply chain. Third-party programs create an external checkpoint.

2) It protects consistency

When you buy a protein powder today and again in three months, you want the same experience. Ongoing verification helps maintain consistent standards.

3) It supports family-level confidence

If you’re a parent buying supplements for a household, or a coach advising teenagers, risk tolerance is different. You want fewer surprises.

4) It’s a trust signal that’s hard to fake

Marketing can claim a lot. A credible certification program requires documentation, testing, and repeat scrutiny.

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Common misconceptions (and what actually matters)

Misconception #1: “It’s FDA approved.”

In the U.S., the FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they’re marketed, and it does not have the authority to pre-approve supplements for safety/effectiveness like drugs.

Misconception #2: “GMP means it’s clean and tested for everything.”

GMP is essential. But GMP alone doesn’t automatically mean a product is screened for banned substances, nor does it guarantee ongoing retail testing.

Misconception #3: “The label proves what’s inside.”

A label is a claim. Verification is evidence. The more complex a formula (multiple actives, flavors, supply chain steps), the more valuable independent verification becomes.

Misconception #4: “Contamination is rare, so I don’t need to worry.”

The point of quality assurance isn’t fear, it’s probability management. If you’re using supplements weekly for years, you want a system that reduces avoidable risk.

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What to look for in third-party tested supplements (a simple checklist)

When evaluating third-party tested supplements, ask:

• What is being tested? (banned substances, identity, purity, heavy metals, microbes?)
  

• How often? (one-time, per batch, monthly retail monitoring?)
  

• Who is the lab or certification body? (accredited methods, independence, track record)
  

• Is there manufacturing oversight or only product testing?
  

• Is the brand transparent about standards and scope?
  

Programs like Informed Choice are valuable because they combine a structured certification process with ongoing monitoring.

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Where “clean” and “halal” standards intersect (and where they don’t)

For many customers, quality isn’t just “performance.” It’s values + safety + trust.

Halal matters, but it’s not the same as banned-substance testing

Choosing halal protein and halal supplements helps ensure ingredients and processes align with halal requirements. It also signals added oversight and traceability standards in many halal certification systems.

But halal certification typically focuses on permissibility, sourcing, and handling, not necessarily the anti-doping banned-substance screening that athletes look for.

The best brands don’t force a tradeoff. They pair:

• halal certification (values, integrity, traceability), with
  

• third-party testing (verification, contamination risk reduction), and
  

• strong internal quality systems.
  
  

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Sahara Supplements’ approach: democratizing athlete-grade standards (without hype)

At Sahara Supplements, our philosophy is simple: quality should be provable, not assumed.

That’s why we look beyond baseline requirements and build layered controls, such as:

• Third-party testing and certification: pursuing athlete-trusted standards like Informed Choice / LGC Group testing to reduce the risk of inadvertent contamination with prohibited substances.
  

• Health Canada compliance: in Canada, licensed Natural Health Products carry an NPN, indicating Health Canada has assessed the product for safety, effectiveness, and quality under recommended conditions of use.
  

• ISNA Halal certification: to ensure products meet halal requirements, supporting customers who want halal supplements without compromising on quality expectations.
  

• Clean ingredient sourcing: tighter supplier standards and documentation, because quality starts before the lab test.
  

A practical example: Whey Supreme

Whey Supreme is designed as a premium, everyday performance protein that reflects this “elite standard for everyone” mindset, bringing together ingredients like hydrolyzed whey protein, hydrolyzed bovine collagen, glutamine, black seed oil extract and creatine monohydrate in a format meant to be held to higher verification expectations than the category average.

Not as a shortcut. As a standard.

Our goal is not to borrow credibility from athlete-only systems, but to normalize them for everyday use.

(Soft CTA: If you want to see how Sahara applies these principles in practice, explore Whey Supreme and our quality standards page.)

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Key takeaways

• Informed Choice certification is a structured third-party program built to reduce the risk of banned-substance contamination, backed by LGC.
  

• The program includes pre-certification assessments, multi-batch pre-testing, and ongoing monthly blind retail testing.
  

• Quality matters for everyone, not just pro athletes, because consistency, purity, and trust are long-term health decisions.
  

• “FDA approved” isn’t a real supplement standard in the U.S.; responsibility sits with manufacturers, which makes credible third-party verification even more important.
  

• The strongest brands layer standards: testing + compliance + sourcing + (where relevant) halal integrity.
  
  

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FAQ

What is Informed Choice certification?

Informed Choice certification is a global quality assurance program for dietary supplements that includes pre-certification review and ongoing testing to reduce contamination risk with prohibited substances.

Is Informed Choice the same as Informed Sport?

They use similar testing approaches, but Informed Sport is known for testing every batch/lot before release, while Informed Choice focuses on ongoing monitoring and regular testing.

Does third-party testing matter if I’m not an athlete?

Yes. Third-party testing helps reduce contamination risk, improves consistency, and provides independent verification beyond marketing claims, valuable for families, coaches, and everyday users.

Are supplements FDA approved?

In the U.S., the FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and it does not pre-approve supplements for safety and effectiveness like drugs.

How can I reduce risk when buying protein powder?

Look for credible third-party tested supplements, ask what’s tested and how often, and favor brands that explain their quality controls clearly, especially if you care about a clean protein powder or are concerned about heavy metals in protein powder.