Notes: Magnesium Bisglycinate Recall

As a supplement brand built on transparency, here's what we have to say about the recent Magnesium Bisglycinate Recall for a popular store brand:

1. It was no surprise
2. More brands will fall
3. Transparency > Bold Claims

It was no surprise

The objective with our first product was to make a magnesium that was 100% pure bisglycinate. After we sourced, manufactured, and even sold our first batch, we discovered this wasn't possible - and our raw material suppliers were literally deceiving us. 

We blew the whistle on ourselves, self-initiated a recall, and set ourselves back at least a year. 

We documented exactly what happened (here, here, and here) and developed a brand new solution for the supplement industry: A QR code to scan on the bottle to access the independent lab testing results that show the actual content of magnesium of that batch.

At one point, our co-manufacturer suggested that we just cover the whole thing up and not report any issues. 

So it was no surprise to us this was coming. We just weren't sure when. 

More brands will fall

We've identified at least three other brands that claim "Pure" magnesium bisglycinate. 

Here's what we look at:

• Purity Claim: Does the listing or label claim to be 100% pure? (Side note: Pure is misleading - the better term is 100% "identified as")?
• Oxide Omission: Does the listing or label not mention magnesium oxide at all as being an ingredient?
• Lab results: Are there independent lab results verifying the identity of their raw materials. As we tested different batches of raw material, we found significant variation between batches that claim to be identical.

Unless they address these three items, I would be anticipating a similar notice in the future.

Transparency > Bold Claims

The trouble is that some people measure the value of their supplements by dollars per mg of active ingredient. This leads to supplement brands advertising more and more of their active ingredients per capsule. Even if it's exaggerated. 

This would be fine if co-manufacturers and raw material suppliers had a transparent and accurate supply chain. But the real world is messier than that. 

In the short-term, it would be better for us to play the game and pump up our numbers too. As mentioned, our co-manufacturer even encouraged this.

But exaggerated claims will be exposed. The brands who tell the truth, even if its messy, will win in the long-term. Or so we believe. Time will tell.