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At-Home COVID Tests: How They Compare and What You Need to Know

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tests: Where to get COVID-19 tests, including information about free testing, home testing and more. Information about SARS-CoV-2 virus tests, antibody tests and FDA authorized tests.

Product Review

CBD Oils, Softgels, Gummies, Creams & Salves Review

See How Much CBD and THC We Found in Products.

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Room Carbon Dioxide Monitors: A Good Way to Assess Room Ventilation and Reduce COVID Spread?

Learn about carbon dioxide monitors, including how they work, what to look for when buying a device, tips for using them, limitations, and which device is our Top Pick.

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Is cinnamon dangerous for my liver? I put about a teaspoon of it in my oatmeal every day.

The most common form of cinnamon contains a naturally occurring liver toxin called coumarin. Find out how much cinnamon is safe to consume, and how often it can be consumed. Also learn how much coumarin ConsumerLab found in popular cinnamon and spices.

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How do the COVID-19 vaccines compare in terms of efficacy, safety and side effects? How, when and where do I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Find out how the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna compare and learn how when and where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine.

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The distributor of my cacao powder says it checks for "metal fragments" in its products. Is this adequate to check for heavy metals, like cadmium and lead, that you've found in cocoas and chocolates?

Find out if tests such as foreign metal detection can show if cocoa powders and chocolate products are contaminated with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead. See amounts of these toxic heavy metals were found in cocoa and chocolate products tested by ConsumerLab.com

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Can I use a home test for mercury to check for mercury in fish, like canned tuna, fresh fish, and sushi?

Find out if home mercury test kits can be used to test fish, such as canned tuna, fresh fish or sushi for mercury contamination. Plus, find out how much mercury ConsumerLab found in popular canned tuna and canned salmon. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Product Review

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review

Many Extra Virgin Olive Oils Don't Seem to Make the Grade

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Will the zinc challenge or taste test really tell if I'm zinc deficient?

Find out if the zinc challenge, also known as the zinc taste test, can accurately detect zinc deficiency. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Product Review

Green Tea Review: Tea Bags, Matcha Powders, and Supplements

Some green teas provide barely any green tea polyphenols, while some others are high strength. See the Test Results and Our Top Picks for Green Tea.

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Which is the best pulse oximeter for home use?

Best pulse oximeter for home use (COVID-19, asthma and COPD). Differences between home use and FDA-approved medical pulse oximeters.

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There are many reports of lead contamination in turmeric spice. How can I make sure I'm not getting lead in my turmeric supplement or spice?

Find out how to avoid contaminated curcumin and turmeric supplements and spices, and see our Top Picks in our Curcumin/Turmeric Product Review.

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Should I be concerned about pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbal supplements?

Find out which herbal supplement ingredients contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), learn why these constituents are a safety concern, and find out how supplements containing these ingredients are regulated in the U.S. and Europe.

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Where to Safely Buy Real Vitamins and Supplements Online, Not Fakes or Counterfeits

ConsumerLab explains how to avoid counterfeit vitamins and supplements when shopping online on Amazon, Walmart.com, and other sites. Learn to identify authorized sites and sellers and avoid fake supplements. Use the brand-by-brand guide to protect yourself from risk.

News Release

October 19, 2017

ConsumerLab.com Reveals Best Zinc Lozenges and Supplements for Shortening Colds and Correcting Deficiency

White Plains, New York, October 19, 2017 — In the U.S., mild zinc deficiency is fairly common. Zinc supplements can help to correct a deficiency, slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration, and have other benefits. Taken as a lozenge, zinc can shorten the duration of a cold.

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What are the side effects of red yeast rice?

Find out which side effects can be caused by red yeast rice supplements that are taken to lower cholesterol levels. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

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Does cat’s claw have any health benefits and is it safe?

Cat's claw is promoted for numerous conditions, including arthritis (including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), Alzheimer's disease, viral infections, boosting immune response to vaccination, and reducing side effects of chemotherapy. Find out if it works and if it's safe.

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Which vitamins and supplements should be stopped before getting blood work, laboratory tests, or medical imaging?

Find out which vitamins and supplements can interfere with blood, urine or stool tests, and imaginging tests, like bone scans and MRIs. Learn how B vitamins such as biotin, niacin and riboflavin, as well as calcium supplements, St. John’s wort, vitamin C, and others supplements can affect test results, as well as common foods that may interfere with tests.

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10 Supplements That May Help Reduce Nighttime Urination (And 5 That May Not)

Waking up more than once during the night to use the bathroom? Learn more about the 9 supplements that may help and 5 others that don't.

News Release

March 31, 2009

ConsumerLab.com Warns of Problems with Multivitamins and Vitamin Water -- Defects Found in Over 30% of Supplements Selected for Testing; Several Popular Children's Multis Exceed Tolerable Upper Intake Levels

WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — MARCH 31, 2009 — Over 30% of multivitamins recently selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com were found to contain significantly more or less ingredient than claimed or were contaminated with lead.

News Release

December 05, 2005

Consumerlab.com reaffirms problems with Trimspa X32

Westchester, NY — December 5, 2005 — ConsumerLab.com responded today to a press release issued by TRIMSPA seeking to refute ConsumerLab.com's test results for TRIMSPA X32, a popular weight loss supplement. ConsumerLab.

News Release

April 22, 2004

ConsumerLab.com shares insights from 2 years of testing supplements for athletic banned substances — Athletes and manufacturers urged to learn how to avoid problems

WHITE PLAINS, NY — April 22, 2004 — Two years after initiating the first program to test dietary supplements for substances banned from athletic competition, ConsumerLab.com today released a short advisory summarizing problems uncovered to-date from its testing.

Recalls & Warnings

August 16, 2019

Lavender Oil Linked With Abnormal Breast Growth in Children

The use of products containing lavender oil has been linked to 16 cases of premature and/or abnormal breast development in girls and boys under the age of 8, according to a new report published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Recalls & Warnings

March 03, 2012

FDA Warns Vitaganic of Manufacturing Violations

On February 8, 2012, the U.S. FDA sent a Warning Letter to Vitaganic, Inc. regarding violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practic (CGMP) regulations for dietary supplements found during an inspection of it manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale, California in October 2011.

Recalls & Warnings

June 16, 2009

FDA Warns of Loss of Sense of Smell with Zicam Nasal Gel/Nasal Swab

On June 16, 2009, the U.S. FDA warned consumers and healthcare professionals to discontinue use of three Zicam Nasal Gel/Nasal Swab products sold over-the-counter as cold remedies because they are associated with the loss of sense of smell that may be long-lasting or permanent.

Recalls & Warnings

June 05, 2012

Many "Grapefruit Seed Extracts" Adulterated

On June 4, 2012, the American Botanical Council (ABC) announced the publication of a review of scientific literature regarding “grapefruit seed extracts,” raising concerns about apparent adulteration of products in the US and international marketplaces.

Recalls & Warnings

January 27, 2003

FTC Charges Dr. Clark and Related Companies with Making Unsubstantiated Health Claims

The Federal Trade Commission has charged a Switzerland-based company and its U.S. counterpart with making numerous unsubstantiated efficacy claims for a variety of dietary supplements and devices that they sell on the Internet.

Recalls & Warnings

February 03, 2015

Major Retailers Accused of Selling Adulterated Herbal Supplements

On February 3, 2015, the New York State Attorney General announced that his office sent letters to four major retailers, GNC, Target, Walmart, and Walgreens, for allegedly selling store brand herbal supplement products in New York that either could not be verified to contain the labeled substance, ...