UK-based Natural Foundation (NF) Supplements is promising consumers complete trust and transparency through batch-by-batch third party testing and providing educational videos on how to chose trustworthy products through its fast-growing YouTube channel.
“We want to get across to the consumer the importance of regular third-party batch testing,” said Logan King, the brand’s director. “It’s shocking the amount of brands that don’t third party test and I think the consumer should be more aware of how important it is.”
After working for a company supplying machinery to the supplements industry and learning the intricacies of manufacturing setups, King acquired NF Supplements in 2021 and soon realized his expertise could become the brand’s USP.
“Over the years I’ve realized how important batch testing is and I decided as of last year that I would test every batch,” he said. “We manufacture in house, so we have full control over the end product.”
King argued the key steps to ensuring correct doses and batch-to-batch consistency are trustworthy sourcing, seamless mixing and precision capsule filling.
This all begins with “a really good sourcing team”, he explained.
“We have a guy that knows all the suppliers and knows who to ask for certain ingredients. So that’s the first hurdle, is getting the sourcing right. With most of our suppliers we have a setup where they send us a third party test with a lab of our choice for the batch we’ve bought so gives a good start,” he said.
“Then you have to get a uniform mix. You have to mix for just the right time so its not over mixed and its uniform throughout.”
He added capsule checkweighing ensures dosage accuracy.
“You have to make sure the powder flows through the machine consistently and ensure the capturing weight is consistent.”
Once all that is done, he ensures the consumer can trace their meticulous work.
“Our bottles have a QR code so the customer can scan it and enter their batch number and get the third party test report for that batch.”
Using established and reliable third party testing firms such as Eurofins and Alchemist Labs, King said the commitment comes at a cost, but its well-worth it to deliver fully transparent products.
“The cost of each batch test will vary depending on the ingredients and the lab used but we’ll be looking at around $200-400 for one batch, including shipping, with a batch being as little as 1,000 units or up to 7,000 units for our best seller.”
He argued the cost is minimal for larger companies in the industry.
“The big companies will be able to produce hundreds of thousands of products per batch so the cost of the testing is not the issue for them,” he said. “I think the problem is they are afraid to have on record if it fails as that’s potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars down the drain.”
Building YouTube presence
While many others focus on Instagram and TikTok to build awareness of their brand, King is focused on building his YouTube channel ‘Logan Talks Health’, where he can post long-form videos to educate consumers about supplement manufacturing, additives, regulations, and the importance of batch testing.
In a recent video he tested a range of magnesium supplements and discussed the issue of ‘magnesium buffering’, explaining that magnesium glycinate labelled supplements will sometimes contain a mixture of magnesium glycinate and magnesium oxide, a cheaper, less bioavailable form. This buffer increases the elemental magnesium content on the label but lowers the absorption rate.
He has a number of plans for future content including an interview with a vitamin D expert to dispel common myths, and third party testing of the top selling supplements on Tik Tok shop.
The NF Supplements range includes: Nattokinase Arterial Support; Blood Pressure Support, containing high nitrate beetroor, potassium citrate, magnesium taurate and red clover extract; Cholesterol Support, containing red yeast rice extract and reishi; vitamin D3 and K2 MK7; and Magnesium Glycinate.
“We produce a really tight range and we’ll only expand at a pace where we feel confident we can maintain the quality,” King added, “we have to make sure we can deliver what we promise.”
