Every Brand File answers the questions labels avoid: who owns the company, whether it runs its own factory or buys from contract manufacturers, what third-party testing really covers, and what the public record (recalls, FDA letters, lawsuits) shows. Each file carries a UV Transparency Score out of 10, scored on published COAs, named facilities, independent certification, ownership disclosure, and recall handling. Method details are in each file; our editorial standards live on the how we review page.
NOW Foods9/10Family-owned since 1968; makes its own products in Illinois and publishes its test methods.
Nature Made7/10Pharmavite, owned by Japan’s Otsuka; mostly own US plants and a USP-verified core line.
Thorne6/10Makes its own products at its South Carolina plant; L Catterton-owned, P&G deal pending.
Sports Research5/10Family-owned label in San Pedro; the products themselves come from contract factories.
Nature’s Bounty5/10Nestle Health Science brand built on the old NBTY factory network.
Kirkland Signature4/10Costco never names its suppliers; USP independently verifies about 25 formulas anyway.
Life Extension4/10Mixed, partly disclosed contract manufacturing behind unusually heavy testing claims.
LMNT4/10Contract-made electrolyte mix; the recipe is public, the factory is not.
Doctor’s Best3/10Owned by China’s Xiamen Kingdomway; manufacturing partners unnamed.
Nutricost1/10Utah budget brand that discloses almost nothing about who actually makes it.
More Brand Files are in production. If there is a brand you want opened up next, tell us through the contact page.