Dietary Substances: Focus on Adulteration and Contamination

Overview:

This webinar focuses on the quality and regulatory aspects of adulteration and contamination in dietary substances and dietary supplements. We will examine common patterns of adulteration (intentional and unintentional), contamination sources, and the regulatory definitions of “adulterated” products. The session will break down key control points-raw material qualification, testing strategies, manufacturing controls, labeling, and post-market monitoring-and offer practical tools for building a risk-based program that goes beyond minimal compliance. Attendees will learn how to evaluate vulnerability in their own product portfolio, collaborate with suppliers and contract manufacturers, and respond effectively when potential adulteration or contamination is detected.

Why you should Attend:

If your control strategy for dietary substances relies mainly on Certificates of Analysis and “trusted suppliers,” you may already be missing critical adulteration or contamination risks. Inadequate testing, weak supplier qualification, and poor label control can lead to warning letters, product removals, and consumer harm. This webinar highlights where adulteration and contamination most commonly occur, how regulators are viewing these risks, and the practical steps you must take to strengthen your programs before an audit, investigation, or social-media-driven crisis forces you to.

Areas Covered in the Session:

• Regulatory definitions and expectations for “adulterated” products
• Overview of key regulations impacting dietary substances and supplements
• Common adulteration patterns (e.g., undeclared APIs, spiking, substitution)
• Typical contamination risks (microbial, allergen, heavy metals, residues, cross-contamination)
• Raw material and supplier controls:
• Risk-based supplier qualification and monitoring
• CoA verification and independent testing strategies
• Manufacturing controls to prevent cross-contamination and mix-ups
• Labeling, claims, and the link between misbranding and adulteration
• Complaint handling, adverse event evaluation, and product investigation
• Building an adulteration/contamination vulnerability assessment for your portfolio
• Responding to confirmed issues: investigations, field actions, and communication

Who Will Benefit:

• Quality Assurance / Quality Control Managers and Specialists
• Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Officers (dietary supplements, nutraceuticals)
• Product Development and Brand Managers
• Purchasing, Sourcing, and Supplier Quality Managers
• Manufacturing and Operations Managers in dietary supplement plants
• Laboratory Managers and Analysts supporting raw material and finished product testing
• Consultants and auditors working in the dietary supplement / natural products space