Where Are Centrum Vitamins Manufactured (The Truth!)

Do you know where Centrum vitamins are manufactured? this is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.

Centrum vitamins are some of the most recognizable products that line our supermarket and drug store shelves, with a range of vitamins specialized for men, women, 50+, and kids.

They are the number one selling multivitamin, mainly thanks to their multi-billion dollar advertising campaigns that have been running for years. 

With 47 products listed on the Centrum.com website, they offer an exceptional range of vitamins, supplements, and specialist products in tablet, capsule, mini-tablets, chewable gummy, and ‘MultiGummies’ form.

So, where are Centrum Vitamins manufactured? Well, Centrum vitamins are manufactured by Pfizer in the plant Suzhou, China. Pfizer has for many years had a drug manufacturing plant in Suzhou, China, where over 700 colleagues are employed at the facility which produces products for sale under the Centrum brand. 

Pfizer Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline plc completed a merger in late 2019, forming the industry’s largest over-the-counter (OTC) drugs business.

This merger also included Pfizer’s portfolio of well-known product companies such as Centrum and Caltrate. 

Who Own Centrum (Who is Pfizer)

Centrum is owned by Pfizer.

Pfizer was founded in 1849 and today is combined with research-based pharmaceutical giant GSK, forming the world’s largest multinational pharmaceutical company capable of generating absolutely mind-boggling annual revenue figures.

It is estimated that over 50% of Pfizer’s revenue comes from the US, making it the most dominant. It is also the most recommended supplement and multivitamin supplier by doctors in the US. 

Pfizer has had operations running in China since the 1980s and currently has offices or research facilities in over 300 cities throughout the country.

There are three other manufacturing plants in China in addition to Suzhou, where Centrum is manufactured and distributed to the US and throughout the world. 

Centrum Company History

Centrum originated out of cancer research that was conducted back in the 1950s by Dr Leon Ellenbogen in Pearl River, N.Y.

The company was formally established in 1968 and first launched its hugely popular Centrum Multivitamin in New York in the same year. 

Nowadays, Centrum multivitamins are sold all over the world, with an ever-expanding range of products available.

In the US, Centrum multivitamins are the leading multivitamin brand recommended by doctors and pharmacists alike! 

Over the years, Centrum has developed a wide range of vitamin and supplement products to suit different age groups, sexes, and even catering to specific lifestyles of their customers.

Centrum was the first major pharmaceutical brand to feature key nutrients like beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein. 

Their extensive range of products promotes healthy lifestyle options and aims to supplement a healthy balanced diet with increased doses of key vitamins and minerals often lacking in foods.

According to the products pages, Centrum products help support daily energy levels, normal immune function, support muscle health and healthy appearance, and assists in the body’s metabolism of nutrients. 

Are Centrum Vitamins Imported to the US?

Yes, Centrum vitamins are manufactured in their plant in Suzhou and then shipped out to various countries, including the US. 

As vitamins and supplements are classified as “food” and not drugs by law, they are not subject to any tough regulatory scrutiny or controls by such US-based organizations as the US-FDA.

 Vitamin and supplement companies such as Centrum then test the raw nutrients and ingredients that they get from China in their world-class testing and processing facilities. 

Read also: Where Are Kirkland Vitamins Made?

Are Imported Vitamins Safe?

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is by far the most common nutrient supplement taken around the world.

Moreover, 80% of Vitamin C is manufactured as dietary supplements in China. 

Many other vitamins and nutrients are also manufactured in China and undergo stringent tests and appraisals before they are made into a final product and arrive on the shelves of your local pharmacy or supermarket. Are they safe? 

The safety of vitamins and supplements such as those made by Centrum depends on who you talk to. For years regulators have been pressing distributors to recall tainted products made with illegal raw ingredients that have been imported from overseas and remain largely untested on humans. 

A few years back a New York Times writer quoted an FDA source as saying that US-based regulators are constantly fighting a tidal wave of illegal and tainted products, particularly from the supplements and vitamins industry.

However, they acknowledge they may be fighting a losing battle as US supplement makers and distributors can introduce new products much more easily than pharmaceutical companies.

Are Centrum Vitamins and Supplement Ingredients Tested?

Fortunately, the US-FDA has not sat idle, and over the past 10 years has introduced new federal guidelines requiring supplement makers such as Centrum to test and certify each ingredient they use in their products. 

In addition, supplement makers are required to test finished goods that are ready for entry to the market to ensure that they match the labels stated ingredients.

With this guarantee that each ingredient is certified and the finished goods are tested, it’s safe to assume these products are high quality.

Plus, with Centrum vitamins and supplements being recommended by experts they’re clearly a healthy option.

Conclusion

While some remain skeptical of Centrum vitamins, mainly due to several years of bad press and probing online ingredients sleuths, Centrum remains the top-recommended multivitamin by doctors and pharmacists in the US.

With this in mind and the testing, it shouldn’t matter where the products are made as long as they are nutritious and of a high standard.

As always, if you’re planning to take a dietary supplement or regular dose of vitamins, it is always worth consulting with your local doctor first to alleviate the risk of any clashes with an existing medical condition, prescribed pharmaceuticals, or any other medicines. 

References

https://www.centrum.com/products/