Collagen & NutritionGuide
Collagen Peptides: Questions to Ask Before Comparing Products
Source, amount, and the outcome that was actually measured: the questions that matter before price.
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Product review · Collagen & Nutrition · Documentation review
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides: Label and Documentation Review
A documentation review of the label, product page, certification listing and policies. We did not analyze a product sample.
Commercial relationship
No commercial relationship
We have no commercial relationship with products on this page.
How this was evaluated
Documentation reviewNo product sample analyzed
We reviewed the public label, product page, NSF registry listing, FDA enforcement records and supplier policies on Oct 18, 2026. We did not independently analyze a product sample.
Scope: Label transparency, certification, recall history and supplier policies for the unflavored powder only. This review does not judge whether the product improves skin, joints or anything else.
The short answer
The unflavored powder publishes a clear Supplement Facts panel: 20 g of collagen peptides from bovine sources in a 4-tablespoon serving, with no other listed ingredients. It appears in NSF's public Certified for Sport registry. The product page refers to research only in general terms and names no study of this product, the "Types I and III" statement appears only in a page FAQ, and the returns policy is brief. This review covers documentation, not whether the product works.
Why we looked at it
It is an unflavored bovine collagen powder sold on the brand's US site, and its label, certification listing, recall history and policies can all be checked in public sources, which makes it a useful worked example of a collagen documentation review.
What we found
Confirmed
- A Supplement Facts panel is published on the product pageServing size 4 Tbsp (20 g), about 14 servings in the 9.33 oz canister; 20 g collagen peptides (from bovine), 18 g protein and 70 calories per serving.
- The source animal is statedThe panel lists collagen peptides "from bovine". The page describes a single ingredient from upcycled bovine hide and says it is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine; no document supporting the sourcing claim is linked.
- Third-party certification can be confirmed in the certifier's registryNSF's Certified for Sport registry lists Collagen Peptides by Vital Proteins LLC, unflavored, all lots, in package sizes that include 265 g, with a 20 g (4 tbsp) serving.
Partly confirmed
- Collagen types are stated and supportedA page FAQ says the powder is Types I and III. The Supplement Facts panel does not list collagen types, and no supporting analysis is linked as of Oct 18, 2026.
- A returns policy is publishedBuyers are asked to report a problem within 30 days of receiving an order from vitalproteins.com, and some returns may carry a restocking fee. The page does not say whether opened products qualify or who pays return shipping.
Not confirmed
- A study of this specific product is cited on the product pageA footnote says various studies have suggested benefits over several months, but the page does not name a study of this product as of Oct 18, 2026.
- Heavy-metal results or limits are published on the product pageNot stated on the product page as of Oct 18, 2026. NSF describes contaminant checks as part of Certified for Sport, but the registry listing does not publish results.
Criteria
● met · ◐ partly met · ○ not met or not provided. “Not provided” is not a score of zero.
| Supplement Facts panel | Label image on the official product page | Met: Published |
|---|---|---|
| Source animal | Supplement Facts panel and product page | Met: Bovine (label) |
| Collagen types | Product page FAQ and label | Partly met: Page FAQ only |
| Independent certification | Searched NSF's public Certified for Sport registry | Met: Listed, unflavored |
| Study of this exact product | References on the product page | Not met: None named |
| Contaminant results | Product page and linked documents | Not met: Not published |
| Returns policy | Public returns page | Partly met: 30 days to report; terms brief |
All criteria checked .
Worth knowing
- FDA's enforcement records list one recall (F-0969-2023): in April 2023 the company recalled 59,701 Collagen Peptides 24 oz plastic canisters because pieces of a broken lid might be inside. FDA classified it Class II, and the recall is listed as terminated (October 2024).
- The label advises consulting a healthcare practitioner before use if pregnant, lactating, on medication or living with a health condition, and states that collagen peptides are an incomplete protein.
- The label says the product is made in a facility that also processes milk and fish.
- Price was read on vitalproteins.com on Oct 18, 2026: $27.00 one-time for the 9.33 oz canister, with a lower subscription price also shown. Prices at other retailers may differ.
Alternatives in the same category
- Great Lakes Wellness Collagen Peptides, 16 ozAlso bovine, with 20 g of collagen per serving and a lower one-time price per serving on Oct 18, 2026. It did not appear in NSF's registries when we checked; its marks include IGEN Non-GMO Tested.
- Orgain Marine Collagen Powder, UnflavoredA fish-based option (Alaskan pollock) for readers who avoid bovine sources. It contains fish, a major allergen, and lists 12 g of collagen per serving.
What we checked
We read the Supplement Facts image, ingredient statement, benefit claims, FAQ and footnotes on the official product page for the unflavored powder Source [1]. We then searched NSF's public Certified for Sport registry for the product and matched the listing's flavor, package sizes and serving size to the canister sold on the brand's site Source [2]. NSF describes that program as checking contents against the label and screening for banned substances and contaminants Source [3]. We also read the returns page Source [4] and searched FDA's enforcement records for recalls by the firm Source [5].
How to read the claims on this page
The product page describes support for hair, skin, nails, bones and joints. These are structure/function claims: FDA does not pre-approve them, and the label must say FDA has not evaluated them Source [6]. The page's footnote refers to "various studies" without naming one, so there is no study of this exact product to weigh. Across collagen research more broadly, a 2025 meta-analysis found that skin benefits seen in pooled trials were not seen in trials without pharmaceutical-company funding Source [7].
What this review does not cover
We did not independently analyze a product sample, and we did not judge taste, mixing or whether the powder works. For the questions behind those claims, see Collagen Peptides: Questions to Ask Before Comparing Products. For how this product sits next to two others, see our comparison of three collagen powders.
Questions people ask
Does the NSF listing mean this collagen improves skin or joints?
No. NSF describes Certified for Sport as checking that contents match the label and screening for banned substances and contaminants. It does not test whether a product changes skin, joints or anything else.
Was this product recalled?
FDA's enforcement records list one recall, started in April 2023, for 24 oz plastic canisters that might contain pieces of a broken lid. FDA classified it Class II and lists it as terminated. We found no other recall for this firm in that database on Oct 18, 2026.
Is there research on this exact product?
The product page does not name one. Published collagen trials often test specific branded ingredients, and a 2025 meta-analysis found that skin benefits were not seen in trials without company funding. See our guide to questions to ask before comparing collagen products.
Sources
Returns - Vital Proteins Vital Proteins.
FDA Enforcement Report: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, 24 oz plastic canister (recall F-0969-2023) U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2023.
Structure/Function Claims U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Myung SK, Park Y. Effects of Collagen Supplements on Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials The American Journal of Medicine, 2025.
Update log
- CheckedFirst published.
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