Viridian Nutrition has taken its clean supplements campaign to a national audience with a feature on BBC Morning Live, aired on 22 May. The segment explored the hidden world of additives in health supplements, with Viridian Nutrition’s Phil Beard, a qualified nutritionist, offering expert advice on how to identify clean formulations.
As part of the BBC’s investigation into supplement labelling and ingredient transparency, Beard explained the health implications of commonly used excipients – ingredients such as magnesium stearate, talc, and various binders, fillers, and glazing agents. These are often used during manufacturing but offer no nutritional value and can cause digestive discomfort.
“They are inactive ingredients and provide no health benefit whatsoever,” Beard told presenter Justine Jones, reinforcing Viridian’s commitment to its No Junk campaign – a longstanding initiative aimed at encouraging consumers to scrutinise supplement labels more closely.
The segment also featured reactions from members of the public, many of whom were surprised to learn that supplements marketed as “healthy” can include ultra-processed ingredients. One viewer called it “quite shocking”, while another said they would now be “more cautious” when purchasing supplements.
An independent expert interviewed in the segment added that some additives may cause bloating and other gut issues, urging consumers to “read the labels” and “look for certification”.
Viridian, known for its ethical and additive-free approach, was chosen to represent the clean supplement movement in the programme. Beard said:
“We believe the public’s concerns over ultra processed ingredients in our everyday foods is justified. However, the fact that so many additives can be found in other supplements is sadly often overlooked. Supplements are often made up of fillers, binders, anti-caking agents, glazing agents, emulsifiers, preservatives, flavours, sweeteners and other additives – the list goes on!
Our Viridian No Junk initiative encourages people to dig deeper by reading the label on all supplements to check whether ‘filler’ ingredients are used. You can visit your independent health store for advice on choosing the right supplements for you.”
He praised BBC Morning Live for tackling the issue and helping to raise awareness among a broader audience.
The full segment is available on BBC iPlayer, Morning Live Series 7: 22/05/2025, starting at 14 minutes and 9 seconds.
For more information, head to the No Junk on the Viridian website and download a copy of the Viridian Dejunk Your Life Report.
