PureLung Testing and Quality: What Is Verified and What Is Not

One mark: Third Party Tested. It is printed on the side panel, and the label names no lab, no date and no test. The seller's graphics also say "GMP certified", "FDA registered", "GMO free", "gluten free" and "dairy free".

We did not publish any of the graphics, because nothing printed on the bottle names a certifier or a test. A badge by itself is a seller's statement. A document from a named lab, with a batch, a method and numbers, is evidence. We have the first and not the second.

Five documents, all of which a seller can share if they exist.

1. A certificate of analysis for your lot, from a named lab, with the date and methods.
2. A spec sheet that lists each name and its amount in the blend.
3. A statement of the manufacturing facility and its GMP audit.
4. Heavy metals and microbial test results.
5. An allergen statement.

Ask for these in writing at the order desk, and tell us the answer at the contact page. The more of them you see, the more weight a quality claim carries. If a seller refuses all of them, then a "tested" mark is only a mark.

Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury can come from plants grown in soil that holds them, and plant extracts and powders are a known place to look. Microbial tests check for mold, yeast, E. coli and salmonella. Pesticide tests look for residues. Each test needs its own lab method, and a CoA that lists them shows what was checked.

PureLung is made of plant powders and extracts, a mineral salt and two vitamins. That is the type of product where heavy metal and microbial tests matter most. We saw no result for either. This is not a sign of a problem. It is a sign that a buyer who cares about it must ask. The NIH tells supplement users to tell their providers about every supplement and to buy with care (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know).

Consumer Reports advises buying from the brand's own channel where you can and being wary of a price far below the usual (Consumer Reports, Avoiding Counterfeits Online). FDA says to report problems with supplements through MedWatch, and that reports help it spot patterns (FDA, MedWatch). Some independent groups run voluntary quality programs for supplements, and a seal from such a group, with a name and a listing you can look up, is more helpful than a generic badge.

We found no such listing for PureLung. If the brand holds one, we will add it, with a link to the listing and a note about what it covers, since a seal can cover one product or one facility and not the whole line.