Are Your Vitamins Manufactured In China?

These days there’s a lot of discussion on supply chains and imported goods, and not just for clothing or smartphones, but also for things like supplements and the raw materials that comprise them. For health-conscious shoppers, ensuring their supplements are made using only pure, potent and high-quality ingredients from trusted suppliers is very important. They want to know if a supplement is manufactured in China, for example, or is it made in the USA?

The answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as you might expect, as it involves more than one component part, just like many supplements. Saying that a vitamin is “made in China” can mean that it is sourced, manufactured and bottled there before being shipped to America. It can also mean that only the ingredients have been sourced in China before being shipped to this country for manufacturing into various supplements.

The important factor in all of this isn’t so much the origin country as the methods and means of sourcing and handling the ingredients to ensure purity, accuracy and safety—something Swanson has always held as an absolute priority.

Yes, Some Vitamins Are Made in China (And Here’s What That Means)

At Swanson, we offer a vast array of vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements, some of which are manufactured at our headquarters in Fargo, ND. Others are manufactured in countries including China. Many feature component ingredients sourced from around the world.  Regardless of the country of origin, we stipulate that all manufacturers must be compliant with GMP standards and practices. We require a Certificate of Analysis from our suppliers with each lot of product verifying that it:

• meets label claims
• has been tested for pathogenic bacteria (Staph, Salmonella, E.coli)
• has been tested for fungal counts
• has been tested for heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic)

We also require that any partnering manufacturers verify that they’re compliant with FDA regulations regarding BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephaopathy) and that they meet the labeling standards set by California’s Proposition 65, not unlike the products we manufacture.

Once we receive the product (whether ingredients or finished products), we send samples to independent third-party labs for quality control testing to verify that the product meets label claims. If the product doesn’t meet label claims in our third party testing, we return it to the manufacturer. We also have an in-house laboratory that checks for heavy metals. These standards of exceptional purity are applied to both our own manufacturing process and any partnering one, regardless of location. For more on our verification requirements for raw materials and ingredient processing, read our Quality Control page.

H3: The Global Nature of Vitamin Manufacturing

Dietary supplements are an increasingly popular form of health maintenance around the world, with a global market expected to reach more than $300 billion in the next few years. Among those regions where supplements are most popular, the USA is one of the top three (along with Japan and the European Union).¹ However, China exists as the dominant source country for exporting supplements in both the arenas of raw materials (ingredients) and bulk materials (softgels, capsules, etc.)² For any supplement export bound for the USA, whether raw ingredients or bulk material, such items and their manufacturing facilities must adhere to American quality control standards, including the Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) regulations established by the FDA.² That means the product supplement that companies receive from China, or any other country, meets the same regulatory standards that American-produced supplements would.

What Makes a Vitamin Safe and Effective

Certifications such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and operating an FDA-registered facility help ensure that vitamins and other dietary supplements are produced under the highest standards for purity, potency and quality. These guidelines cover not only the products, but also the facilities in which they’re made. At Swanson, many of our supplements are made in-house using both domestic and internationally sourced raw materials. Regardless of country of origin, however, all of our products are manufactured in a GMP-Certified facility. We’re proud to be recognized as a Certified GMP Facility by both NSF and UL—two independent, internationally recognized organizations that aim to promote consumer and product safety

The Testing That Really Matters

To make sure you’re getting top-quality supplements with every purchase, look for a manufacturer that has a history of adhering to the highest standards in its procurement and production practices. Also be sure to check out the manufacturer’s website for information on any certifications or third-party testing their products are subject to.

How to Know If Your Vitamins Are High Quality

Making sure that your vitamins are high quality requires a little homework on your end, but the benefits can be meaningful and long-lasting. Don’t forget, it’s all for your health! You can rest assured that your supplements reflect true quality if they’re manufactured by a reputable company that has a long history of ensuring customer satisfaction by adhering to GMP certifications and cGMP guidelines. Third-party and in-house laboratory testing is also a critical key to ensuring that you get the purest and most potent supplements without contaminants or adulterated ingredients.

Red Flags to Watch For (Regardless of Origin)

No matter where a supplement’s raw materials are sourced from or even where it’s manufactured, some red flags to watch for would include damaged or misshapen packaging or tablets, capsules, etc. Poor labeling (vague, unclear or poorly translated information) may also be a sign to avoid. Additionally, if the company’s website or bottle fails to mention anything about GMP certification, quality testing, or FDA registration, you may want to reconsider.

Green Flags That Signal Quality Manufacturing

In stark contrast to the above, professional packaging with clear labeling backed by GMP certification is always a green flag. A company that’s transparent about its legacy and practices, backed up by voluntary certification and FDA registration is also a promising sign of quality.

Third-Party Testing: Your Quality Assurance

Independent, third-party testing is a way for any manufacturer to demonstrate to its customers that what they read on a bottle label is really what they’ll be getting. It guarantees that only the stated ingredients are present in the product, in the amounts listed, and that they’re safe when taken as indicated. These are the guarantees each customer can count on when they choose to buy from Swanson—after all, we make the same supplements that we give to our own friends and families!

The Trademark Ingredient Advantage

Some customers choose to select items containing trademarked ingredients. These ingredients are often more recognizable on a label and may also be more familiar to shoppers. Trademarked ingredients come from the holders of that trademark, so original sourcing can be easier to determine.

Why Trademarked Ingredients Offer More Transparency

When researching a trademarked ingredient online, it’s often easier to find information on the holder’s website describing where they source their raw materials from and under what conditions (requirements). For those who want a better understanding of their supplement’s country of origin or how it is manufactured, this can be very helpful.

Examples of Trusted Trademarked Ingredients

Some examples of trademarked ingredients Swanson offers would include:

• 7-Keto® DHEA
• Albion® chelated minerals
• Berbevis® berberine
• Sensoril® ashwagandha

Making Smart Choices for Your Health

Before buying any vitamin or other supplement, ask yourself:

• Is this from a reputable company with a demonstrated history of putting its customers first?
• Is the packaging and bottle label clear, transparent and direct?
• Does this company voluntarily submit to GMP and cGMP verifications of its products and facilities?
• Is this company’s manufacturing plant registered with the FDA?

Your Path to Confident Vitamin Choices

With this understanding of vitamins manufactured in China or elsewhere, you're better able to discern the value and quality of your supplement choices regardless of their country of origin. You can use this information to craft your own standards of expectation in a product before purchasing and can rest assured your making the right choice. Swanson shares your values and expectations, subjecting every product we offer to the highest standards and rigorous certification and testing. It's just the way we do business.

You be well, now,
Swanson

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Sources

1. Djaoudene, et al. (2023). Nutrients, 15(15), 3320. Read source

2. Dr. Hua, Deng. Supply Side® Supplement Journal. May 7, 2018. Accessed July 2025. Read source