How We Calculate Trust Scores
Every supplement brand on SupplementChecker receives a trust score from 0 to 100. This score is calculated algorithmically from publicly available regulatory data, third-party certifications, and consumer safety records. No brand can pay to alter their score.
Scoring Algorithm
Every brand starts at 70/100 (baseline)
Points Added
- NSF Certified for Sport: +15
- USP Verified: +15
- Informed Sport: +10
- Publishes Lab Results: +10
- Clean FDA Record: +10
- 10+ Years in Business: +10
- Third-Party Tested (self-reported): +5
- Organic Certification: +5
Points Deducted
- FTC Pyramid Scheme: -50
- FTC Deceptive Claims: -20 to -30
- FDA Warning Letters: -25
- Product Recalls: -20
- High Adverse Events: -15
- No Third-Party Testing: -15
- Proprietary Blends: -10
- No GMP Certification: -10
Final score capped at 0-100. Grade (A+ through F) and risk level derived from final score.
Worked Example: WeightWorld
Here's how a real brand score is calculated:
| Baseline | 70 |
| GMP Certified | +5 |
| Clean FDA Record | +10 |
| 10+ Years | +10 |
| No NSF/USP/Informed Sport | -15 |
| Final Score | 80/100 (B+) |
Data Sources
| Source | What We Pull | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Recalls & Warning Letters | Product recalls, warning letters, enforcement actions | High |
| FDA Adverse Event Reports (CAERS) | Consumer-reported adverse events | Medium |
| NSF Certified for Sport | Independent product testing certification | High |
| USP Verified | U.S. Pharmacopeia product verification | High |
| Informed Sport/Choice | Banned substance testing for athletes | Medium |
| FTC Enforcement | Federal Trade Commission deceptive practices actions | High |
| Health Canada (LNHPD) | Licensed Natural Health Products Database | Medium |
| GMP Certification | Good Manufacturing Practice compliance | Low |
| Brand Website Analysis | Testing claims, certifications displayed, transparency | Medium |
| Reddit Community Sentiment | User discussion patterns across supplement subreddits | Low |
| Amazon Review Analysis | Product ratings and review theme analysis | Low |
| Independent Lab Reports | ConsumerLab, Labdoor public scores | Medium |
What We Don't Do
- We never accept payment to change a score
- We don't give medical advice
- We don't use fake author bios or fabricated expert opinions
- We don't invent data — if a source has no data for a brand, we say so
All data is updated monthly. Individual brand research sections note their specific update dates. See our full data sources page for update frequency details.