If you continue to play with fire you will get burned sooner or later—unless you’re a Targaryen of course.

By now, dietary supplement professionals should be well aware of the issues raised by the New York Attorney General saga, which sent a shock wave across the industry that’s still cresting. No matter how you may feel about the tactics employed during and following that investigation, the long-view end result seems to be an increased focus on quality measures across the board.

Eric Schneiderman may have heavy-handedly compelled companies to consider and/or adopt DNA testing, but with the passage of time—and the sky hasn’t fallen yet—the dietary supplement industry is now left to solidify best practices and implementation of this emerging technology. Sometimes it seems like self-regulation could use an outsider to shake things up just to keep everyone honest.

GNC’s development and adoption of Good Manufacturing Practices for raw materials represents a significant first step for broader adoption of quality assurance practices that will benefit the entire supply chain.

Despite negative news headlines and controversies over the past year and a half, the herbal dietary supplement industry has continued to grow. Industry adoption, implementation and promotion of an even more nuanced approach to testing and validation of product quality will only further benefit the market’s standing in the eyes of consumers who are hungry for natural product solutions. In order to attract and retain the next generation of consumers, transparency of product testing and quality will be a key ingredient.

Just as you don’t cut corners when it comes to the health and security of your family, successful businesses must make quality assurance, including a sound testing strategy, a basic pillar of operation—just like accounting or human resources. Otherwise, companies not only risk getting burned themselves, but also jeopardize the health and trust of consumers and the entire industry.