Vitamin D Supplements Tested for Pesticides, Lead, PFAS, & Phthalates

Key Points:

• Mamavation tested 11 popular Vitamin D3 K2 supplements for contaminants including pesticides, heavy metals, PFAS “forever chemicals,” phthalates, and glyphosate using EPA-certified laboratories, revealing widespread contamination despite high product costs.
• All tested supplements contained ortho-phthalates, 64% had detectable pesticides, and 9% contained specific PFAS chemicals, while none showed glyphosate above detection limits and heavy metals were below California Prop 65 warning levels.
• Contamination sources likely include flexible PVC materials used in manufacturing or packaging, with phthalate profiles suggesting multiple contamination pathways rather than a single source; one product showed exceptionally high phthalate levels warranting immediate investigation.
• Vegan and non-vegan supplements did not differ significantly in contaminant levels, indicating that both categories require improved quality control and contamination prevention measures.
• Experts recommend manufacturers analyze individual components (capsules, active ingredients, excipients, packaging) separately to identify contamination sources and improve product safety, as current purification processes may be insufficient.