Transparency and traceability reign supreme at Ritual. We believe you deserve to know exactly what you’re putting into your body, where it came from, and why. This is why we’re excited to announce that our whole line of multivitamins and protein powders are now Clean Label Project™ Certified, including a special Purity Award for our prenatal multivitamin, postnatal multivitamin, and entire line of protein powders.

What Is the Clean Label Project?

The Clean Label Project™ is a national nonprofit with the mission to “bring truth and transparency to food and consumer product labeling.” In the U.S., the basis of food and consumer safety is focused mostly on pathogen and microbiological contaminants, but in recent years, more attention has been paid to the health consequences of heavy metal exposure, pesticide residues, and plasticizers—information that isn’t always readily available. The Clean Label Project™ is committed to changing the definition of food and consumer data through the use of data, science, and transparency. It awards brands with products that focus on purity and surpass the minimum regulation requirements required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Why Is This Certification important?

Currently, there isn’t a lot of advocacy for limits on heavy metals in supplements and protein powders by the FDA. A 2009 study of 6,712 women showed that those using herbal supplements had lead levels in their bodies that were 10% higher than non-users. (1) Plant-based protein powder testing has led to concerns over heavy metal contamination, and a 2018 study on 24 herbal supplements made in Poland found that all supplements tested contained some content of mercury. (2,3) What does this mean? Without credible, trusted certification and/ or clear labeling, consumers can’t trust what they’re putting into their bodies. We’ve been transparent from day one and want other brands to do the same. Fun fact: Only less than 2% of supplement companies have one or more products Clean Label Certified. The Clean Label Project™ is a safety certification for the supplements industry - one of the many reasons why it’s so important to us.

What Does It Mean To Be Clean Label Project Certified?

When a product is chosen or nominated for certification, the Clean Label Project™ uses its Consumer Chain of Custody Sampling Process to replicate the consumer shopping experience. It purchases samples independently via brand websites and national retailers and tests the products that are actually on the shelves (virtual or real) for consumers to buy. These samples are then submitted to one of the Clean Label Project™ ISO-accredited analytical chemistry partner laboratories, where they undergo extensive testing depending on the product category.

When it comes to knowing what you’re putting into your body, there’s no such thing as TMI. And while we’re transparent about the ingredients that go into our products, not all brands are. Our testing is rigorous around heavy metals and chemical contaminants, and we’re excited to have our work recognized by the Clean Label Project™.

What Does the Clean Label Project Test For?

The Clean Label Project™ tests for over 200 of the most commonly used pesticides, plasticizers, and other problematic chemicals, like heavy metals. Additionally, products that yield test results that comply with the State of California Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Office’s Proposition 65 list and other supporting compliance requirements qualify for Clean Label Project™ certification. And it doesn’t stop there. The Clean Label Project™ continues to use its consumer chain of custody sampling and testing process to guarantee ongoing compliance, ensuring that brands continue to maintain internal quality assurance and control programs while certified.

(Spoiler alert: we crushed it.)

Ritual's Prenatal Multivitamin, Postnatal Multivitamin, and the Entire Essential Protein Line Given the Clean Label Project Purity Award

The Clean Label Project™ Purity Award evaluates products for substances of high concern that are rarely reported on labels. These include chemical and environmental toxins such as heavy metals, pesticide residues, and plasticizers. Using benchmarked data, the Clean Label Project compares individual test results to the test results of best-selling products in the same product category. This allows the Clean Label Project to communicate to consumers which brands are actively taking steps to minimize consumer exposure to known chemicals of concern.

In compliance with the requirements set forth by the Clean Label Project™, our Essential Postnatal – the first postnatal multivitamin to receive this certification – and our Essential Protein have been awarded the Clean Label Project™ Purity Award.

Traceability is not limited to sourcing high-quality ingredients; it also guides us to work with responsible suppliers. Our Clean Label Project™ certification is motivation and provides accountability to maintain and improve our traceable sourcing, high testing standards, and product transparency. Ritual is committed to pushing the industry forward with clean supplements and unparalleled transparency, all the while urging Congress to advocate for limits on environmental contaminants like heavy metals.

References:

1. National Library of Medicine. Herbal Supplement Use and Blood Lead Levels of United States Adults. 2009.
2. Consumer Reports. Arsenic, Lead Found in Popular Protein Supplements. 2018.
3. Brodziak-Dopierała, B., Fischer, A., Szczelina, W., & Stojko, J. (2018). The Content of Mercury in Herbal Dietary Supplements. Biological trace element research, 185(1).