At Ritual, it’s our mission to give customers radical transparency into what they’re putting into their bodies and why—even if the road to get there isn’t exactly easy. Case in point: Essential for Woman 18+ is now USP-verified, a third-party quality certification that sets one of the highest bars for product transparency.

But what exactly does that mean, and why is USP verification a big deal? Let’s dig in.

What Does USP Verification Mean?

Put simply, it means that the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) has verified certain claims we make about our Essential for Women 18+ multivitamins—important things like nutrient levels, their availability to be absorbed, and a careful review of impurities like heavy metals and other unwanted ingredients. It’s the only standards-setting organization recognized in U.S. federal law that offers third-party verification.

USP’s verification confirms the following factors:

Identity. Essential for Women 18+ passed rigorous testing and auditing criteria to ensure consumers that the product they’re buying is exactly what it says it is.*

Potency. USP verified that the ingredients we include in Essential for Women 18+ are at the levels we say they are.*

Purity. Essential for Women 18+ does not contain harmful levels of unwanted impurities (e.g. heavy metals and microbes).*

Performance. If supplements don’t dissolve properly, they could pass through the system without any impact. USP verified that our nutrients are available to be broken down and released in the body as intended.*

Aren’t Other Multivitamins On the Market USP-Verified?

Earning USP Verification isn’t easy, and it’s certainly not industry standard—none of the top three bestselling women’s multivitamins are USP Verified, which is why it’s a big deal that Essential for Women 18+ has made the mark.†

†Based on the top 3 US women’s multivitamin brands by 2019 & trailing 12 month retail sales (through April '20).

But we think the rigorous process it took to earn USP verification is more than worth it, since it can help our customers feel all the more confident about what goes into their daily Ritual…and not just take our word for it. That’s part of our Made Traceable promise, after all—not just telling you what goes into our products, but backing it up, too.

What Other Certifications Does Essential for Women 18+ Have?

Essential for Women 18+ is also Non-GMO Project-Verified, which means that we don’t include any ingredients from genetically modified organisms. That’s not even to mention our university-led Clinical Study, where Essential for Women 18+ was shown to increase Vitamin D and Omega-3 DHA levels in 12 weeks.* Having this trifecta of independent testing was important to us, and it sets us apart: None of the five best-selling women’s multivitamins are USP Verified, Non-GMO Project Verified, and disclose their clinical study information on their site.†

†Based on the top 5 US women’s multivitamin brands by 2019 & trailing 12 month retail sales (through April '20).

Beyond that, each batch of our multivitamins is tested for identity, purity, strength, and composition, so we can be sure that what’s on the label is what’s in the capsules. We also complete third-party testing to help ensure our products are compliant with regulations and guidelines for heavy metals, microbes and major allergens and to help assure the quality and safety of our products.*

What About Other Ritual Products? Are They USP-Verified?

Not at the moment, but we would love for each and every one of Ritual’s products to be USP Verified. Stay tuned!

USP has tested and verified ingredients, potency, and manufacturing process. USP sets official standards for dietary supplements. See www.usp.org.