Frequently Asked Questions
Discover answers to commonly asked questions about our brand, products, and more!
Our Brand Philosophy & Brand Standards
MegaFood – a Certified B Corporation and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023 – is a premium supplement brand that expertly crafts nutrient-rich, planet-first supplements made with real food. Driven by our belief that food grown from healthy soil is a solution to making people and the planet healthier, we work with trusted farm partners who share our commitment to organic and regenerative agriculture.
MegaFood products are: tested for 150+ pesticides, Non-GMO Project Verified & Certified Glyphosate Residue Free.
We expertly craft our vitamins and supplements with real food paired with essential nutrients that your body can recognize. When we say nutrient rich, it means our vitamins and minerals are highly efficacious and contain the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to support optimal health and meet the recommended daily value of 20% or more per serving. An example of a nutrient-rich product would be MegaFood’s #1 selling product, our Blood Builder Iron Supplement, which is “nutrient-rich” in iron.
By planet-first, we mean that as a B Corporation, we prioritize the planet, people, and our performance in all business decisions. We meet high verified standards of environmental performance, transparency, and legal accountability. We are not in first place, we are not the most, or the best, but we are committed to improving our impact from how we source our ingredients, to the packaging we use, and even how we ship them. We are not only focused on reducing our environmental footprint across our operations and supply chain but on how we can help make the planet healthier through supporting the regenerative agriculture movement. Our B Corp Certification, 1% for the Planet membership, Native Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), Impact report, Plastic Neutral Certification, and investment in regenerative agriculture research (SCAP) are all examples of how we are working towards this commitment.
MegaFood was founded in 1973. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2023.
We first became a Certified Benefit Corporation in 2018, and recently became recertified with B Lab in 2022. B Lab is the nonprofit organization that certifies B corporations, companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
MegaFood has rigorous internal product standards, many of which we pioneered over the last 50+ years. We also have several third party certifications to independently verify that when we say we expertly craft the most nutrient-rich, planet-first vitamins made with real food, we mean it.
The MegaFood Standard:
- Contains real food
- Prioritizes food grown from farmers who share our commitment to soil health through regenerative agriculture practices
- Tests for 150+ pesticides
- Clinically tested ingredients and invest in clinicals on finished products
- Third Party Product Certifications
- Non-GMO Project Verified
- Certified Organic
- Certified Glyphosate Residue Free by The Detox Project
- Certified Vegan Action
- Kosher
- BioSan is MegaFood’s internal lab that is ISO 9001 Certified
- NSF conducts annual facility audits and issues our Good Manufacturing Practices Certificates.
Sustainability & Social Impact
- The majority of MegaFood’s products, our tablets and capsules, come in amber glass bottles - which contain 30% recycled glass content and because they are glass, are considered optimally recyclable. Our gummies are packaged in PET, plastic resin code number 1, which can be recycled, however, is not optimized due the plastic label. Please check with your local recycling centers to be sure these materials are accepted in your area.
- To address our plastic footprint, MegaFood is now Plastic Neutral Certified. That means for every ounce of plastic purchased from us, we collect and recycle the same amount of nature-bound plastic pollution. We do this with our new plastic neutral partner, rePurpose Global. To read more about rePurpose Global, please visit: https://repurpose.global/
- What’s next? MegaFood will prioritize using post-consumer recycled materials, materials that can be recycled curbside, along with the using the How2Recycle logo to clearly communicate recycling instructions to consumers.
In 2019, MegaFood presented a petition of over 80,000 signatures to the EPA requesting a ban on the use of glyphosate as a drying agent in oats. While the EPA did not follow through with a ban, the campaign elevated awareness of the glyphosate issue. MegaFood was the first supplement company to have its products certified Glyphosate Residue Free by the Detox Project.
MegaFood is proud to be B Corp Certified, which means we lead by using business as a force for good and demonstrate high social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
- Training Growers - Identifying opportunities to educate and advance knowledge of regenerative agricultural practices within the supply chain
- Collective Action - Participate with other companies and organizations that are working collectively to make a difference and helped initiate an independent, third-party verified standard for soil health and carbon sequestration
- Funding Regenerative Research - Investing dollars in research efforts that may significantly help improve the system
- Amplifying Voices - Elevating those who are doing work to regenerate the planet but who may not have ready access to resources
By planet-first, we mean that as a B Corporation, we prioritize the planet, people, and our performance in all business decisions. We meet high verified standards of environmental performance, transparency, and legal accountability. We are not in first place, we are not the most, or the best, but we are committed to improving our impact from how we source our ingredients, to the packaging we use, and even how we ship them. We are not only focused on reducing our environmental footprint across our operations and supply chain but on how we can help make the planet healthier through supporting the regenerative agriculture movement. Our B Corp Certification, 1% for the Planet membership, Native Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), Impact report, Plastic Neutral Certification, and investment in regenerative agriculture research (SCAP) are all examples of how we are working towards this commitment.
1% for the Planet Membership
Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia) and Craig Mathews (founder of Blue Ribbon Flies), 1% for the Planet is a global organization that exists to ensure our planet and future generations thrive. It is founded on the idea that a company has a responsibility to give back for use of the planet's resources.
As of January 2024, 1% for the Planet’s global network consists of over 5,000 business members and 5,500 environmental partners.
By donating 1% of annual sales, we can maximize the impact we have with partners dedicated to working on social and environmental solutions to grow a healthy world. As part of our 1% commitment, MegaFood is working with, and financially supporting three main partners:
- National Young Farmers Coalition, an organization that shifts power and changes policy to equitably resource the new generation of working farmers.
- Women’s Earth Alliance, a grassroots organization committed to protecting the environment, ending the climate crisis, and ensuring a thriving world by empowering women’s leadership.
- Soil Carbon Accrual Project, in an 3-year academic partnership with the Cal State University, Chico, MegaFood is funding research to help understand the scientific benefits of regenerative agriculture practices.
MegaFood believes it’s important to give back. For us, that means everything from monetary contributions to volunteer time. In 2022, we gave $1.235 million in financial donations, product donations, sponsorships and small grants to environmental organizations. To learn more about MegaFood’s environmental and social impact, visit megafood.com/impact.
No - absolutely nothing will change! As a partner with 1% for the Planet, MegaFood will continue striving to craft the most efficacious, planet-first vitamins and supplements powered by plants.
As of January 2024, 15 VMS brands have joined the movement. “MegaFood’s commitment to donate 1% to the Planet underscores how human health and environmental health go hand-in-hand.” - Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet.
MegaFood is one of just 250 with both certifications. “At MegaFood, what drives us every single day is our mission… to be a leading force for good in the world.” - Andy Dahlen, CEO of MegaFood
To learn more, visit onepercentfortheplanet.org
Ingredient Sourcing
MegaFood’s goal is to source its food and botanical ingredients from suppliers who prioritize soil health through organic and regenerative practices and through participation in our supplier questionnaire (see below for details).Please see individual product ingredient labels for details on organic ingredients.
Additionally, MegaFood is helping to fund research into regenerative agriculture and actively working toward a systemic change toward more regenerative and just supply chain.
MegaFood sources our ingredients globally, and upholds all suppliers to the same code of conduct, which you can learn more about here. In certain situations one country may be the sole country where a certain ingredient is available, as is the case with the ingredient melatonin as of March 2023. As a certified B Corporation, we continually evaluate our partnerships and sourcing to ensure they align with our commitments and values to our people and our planet.
While MegaFood uses certified organic ingredients, not all of our finished products are certified. Instead, we prioritize sourcing Non GMO and test all materials and products for over 150 herbicides and pesticides, including glyphosate. We were actually the first supplement brand to have its entire portfolio certified Glyphosate Residue Free by the Detox Project.
Ingredient Quality
All MegaFood products undergo a variety of testing, including heavy metals, contaminants, yeasts, mold, identity, and potency verification.
MegaFood’s internal quality management system is NSF Certified
We operate an ISO9001 certified laboratory and work with third-party analytics for additional testing and result verification.
Yes! All MegaFood products are tested for heavy metals including lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic.
MegaFood supplements are formulated with real food ingredients that are grown in soil where lead is found naturally. This means that MegaFood’s supplements will contain a low level of lead, well below limits defined by scientific experts. The average lead level of MegaFood products is < 0.5 micrograms per serving, well below standards defined by experts as shown in the information below:
Lead Micrograms per day
MegaFood < 0.5 typical
FDA 12.5 Adults 3.0 Children
Health Canada 10.0
NSF/ANSIA 10.0
USP (United States Pharmacopeia) 5.0
A = NSF International Standard /American National Standard for Dietary Supplements
We do not currently share out COAs as the results can be open to misinterpretation without an appropriate explanation. Please let us know if you have a specific concern.
General Product Questions
We’re updating our packaging with a fresh new look. During this transition, you may see different labels in the market, but rest assured that the formulas inside are the same as you know and love.
No, while our supplements do contain real food, they are crafted with a combination of key nutrients and real food from trusted farm partners.
The vitamins and minerals used in supplements are synthetic forms of the nutrients. They are paired with real food from our trusted partners. While food should always be first in getting the nutrients we need, it would be impossible to get the levels of vitamins and minerals delivered in our (and other) supplements if we were to simply include just the food.
Yes! When developing a supplement routine for optimal health and wellness, people often like to combine different supplements.
Since each person has individual health needs, we cannot advise about specific supplement combinations and advise you to consult with your healthcare practitioner.
MegaFood uses natural flavouring only when a product would otherwise be unpalatable, such as with multivitamin gummies. We work hard to ensure that the natural flavours we use are derived from vegetarian and Non-GMO sources and do not contain any of the "Big 9" Allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, soy and sesame. While we are unable to provide a breakdown of all ingredients that may be present in our natural flavours as they are considered proprietary to the flavour ingredient manufacturers, we can work to rule out additional allergens on an as-needed basis.
We do not recommend to take any products beyond the expiration date.
All MegaFood products are either vegetarian or vegan which is clearly noted on the product label. Vegan supplements are made with no ingredients derived from animals and is suitable for those who follow a vegan diet. Our vegetarian supplements, which will include all of our multivitamins are made without ingredients of animal origin except for those with Vitamin D3 (lanolin from sheep wool), GTF Chromium (l-cysteine from duck feathers), and/or L-tyrosine (from duck feathers).
MegaFood supplements are made without 9 common food allergens milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish and sesame. "Made Without 9 Food Allergens" is an internal MegaFood standard with a seal that appears on bottles along with our other certifications.
Yes we do! Like all MegaFood supplements, they are made with key nutrients and real food, and crafted without gluten, dairy & soy. Learn more about our kid’s multi here.
