Scoring rubric
The audit uses ten dimensions scored 0–10 for a maximum of 100 points. Scores reflect only what a consumer can verify before purchase.
COA Visibility
Batch-specific Certificate of Analysis, named third-party lab, accreditation, and pre-purchase access.
Lab Panel Clarity
Potency plus contaminant panel: heavy metals, microbials, pesticides, solvents, and readable results.
Ingredient Transparency
Species, form, extraction method, per-ingredient amounts, and proprietary-blend clarity.
Dosage Clarity
Serving size, mg per serving, suggested use, frequency, and per-container math.
Medical Claim Restraint
Avoids disease-treatment claims and keeps structure/function claims within responsible limits.
Legal Disclaimers
Jurisdictional variability, age restrictions, DSHEA/FDA disclaimers, and no “100% legal everywhere” claims.
Support Availability
Phone/email/chat, named company, address, response path, and verifiable business identity.
Shipping Transparency
Processing times, carriers, costs, expedited options, and lost/damaged order policy.
Review Visibility
BBB, Trustpilot, Google Business Profile, review count, complaint visibility, and independent footprint.
Refund / Replacement Clarity
Dedicated policy page, return/replacement rules, time windows, and process clarity.
Grade bands
| Score | Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | A | Excellent transparency; no brand reached this band in the 2026 audit. |
| 75–89 | B | Strong transparency with minor gaps. |
| 60–74 | C | Some transparency, but material gaps remain. |
| 40–59 | D | Weak transparency across multiple consumer-critical dimensions. |
| Below 40 | F | Very low transparency; insufficient information for an informed consumer decision. |
Sources and provenance
This report framework is an original editorial method. Its evidence trail connects the full cited .org audit with public FDA, FTC, and BBB guidance used to define transparency, claim-restraint, and consumer-information criteria.
- Complete cited editorial audit on iMicrodosing.org ↗
- FDA dietary-supplement guidance and regulatory information ↗
- FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance ↗
- BBB complaint and customer-review process information ↗
- Machine-readable source-provenance manifest ↗
The .net CSV and JSON intentionally omit row-level commercial URLs so the dataset remains educational rather than promotional. These references do not endorse, certify, or validate any brand or product. The transparency score is not a product-safety certification, legal conclusion, or clinical evaluation.