What Does NSF Certified Mean?
NSF/ANSI 173 vs NSF Certified for Sport, and how to check a listing.
NSF offers two supplement-related certifications. NSF Certified (to the NSF/ANSI 173 standard) covers label-claim verification, contaminant screening and facility audits. NSF Certified for Sport adds screening for many substances prohibited in sport. Neither is a statement about effectiveness.
- NSF Certified ≠ NSF Certified for Sport.
- Certified for Sport adds banned-substance screening.
- Both are listed publicly on NSF’s websites.
Two different programs
The NSF/ANSI 173 standard is a dietary supplement quality standard covering label accuracy and contaminants, with audits of manufacturing facilities. NSF Certified for Sport builds on this with testing for substances banned by many sports organizations, which matters to athletes subject to drug testing.
What it doesn’t mean
Certification tells you about product quality and, for Sport, banned-substance screening. It doesn’t tell you whether a supplement will produce a particular effect.
How to check
Search the product in NSF’s public listings or on the NSF Certified for Sport site. SuppScout records the date we checked.
Sources & references
- NSF Certified Dietary Supplements listings. NSF. info.nsf.orgOrganization
- NSF Certified for Sport. NSF. nsfsport.comOrganization
SuppScout links to primary and authoritative sources wherever possible. See our editorial policy for how sources are selected and how corrections are handled.
This page is educational and is not medical advice. Talk to a healthcare professional before starting a supplement, especially if you have a medical condition, take medications, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.