How to Get Paleo Certified: The Complete Guide
How to Get Paleo Certified: The Complete Guide The Paleo Foundation is the world's leading certification body for Paleo, Grain-Free, and Keto food products. Since 2010, we have certified thousands of products from hundreds of brands across every major retail channel. This guide walks you through...
How to Get Paleo Certified: The Complete Guide
The Paleo Foundation is the world's leading certification body for Paleo, Grain-Free, and Keto food products. Since 2010, we have certified thousands of products from hundreds of brands across every major retail channel. This guide walks you through exactly how to get your product Certified Paleo.
Step 1: Confirm Your Product's Eligibility
Before applying, review the Certified Paleo Standards to confirm your product formulation is eligible. The core requirements are straightforward: no grains, no legumes, no dairy, no artificial additives, and the product must test below 10 ppm for gluten and gliadin.
If you're unsure whether a specific ingredient qualifies, contact us. Our team regularly works with brands on ingredient questions and can advise on reformulation if needed. Common ingredient questions we've addressed include xanthan gum, gum arabic, agave, allulose, and resistant maltodextrin.
Step 2: Submit Your Application
Apply here. The application collects basic information about your brand, your products, and your manufacturing process. All information submitted is kept in strict confidentiality.
You can apply for certification for individual SKUs or your entire product line. Many brands start with their best-selling products and expand certification to additional SKUs over time.
Step 3: Round 1 — Ingredient Audit
Once your application and payment are received, the Paleo Foundation's auditing team conducts a preliminary review of every ingredient in your product formulation. This is checked against the Certified Paleo Standards ingredient-by-ingredient.
If any ingredients are flagged as non-compliant, our team will work with you to identify alternatives or reformulation paths. This collaborative approach means that a first-round flag is not a rejection; it's an opportunity to refine your formulation with expert guidance.
Step 4: Round 2 — Documentation Review
In the second round, our auditing team reviews your manufacturing documentation, including supplier certifications and specifications, manufacturing process documentation, allergen control procedures, cross-contamination protocols, and hazard analysis (HACCP) if available.
Based on this review, your product is assigned to a Risk Category that determines the level of ongoing surveillance required. Products manufactured in facilities that also process grains, for example, are assigned a higher risk category and subject to more frequent testing.
Step 5: Round 3 — Laboratory Testing
Your products are sent to an ISO-accredited laboratory for final testing. The primary test is a competitive assay for gluten and gliadin, with a compliance threshold of less than 10 ppm (half the FDA's threshold for gluten-free claims).
The Paleo Foundation covers the coordination with the laboratory. You receive a copy of all test results.
Step 6: Approval and Licensing
Upon successful completion of all three rounds, you receive a Letter of Approval, the Certified Paleo certification mark artwork files, a licensing agreement governing the use of the mark, and inclusion in the Certified Brands directory.
The Certified Paleo label can be used on product packaging, promotional materials, point-of-purchase displays, websites, sales literature, banners, and company stationery, subject to the usage guidelines in the licensing agreement.
Timeline and Pricing
The certification process typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from application to approval. Timeline varies based on the complexity of your product line and the responsiveness of documentation submissions.
For current pricing, visit our pricing page or contact us directly. The Paleo Foundation offers certification programs scaled to businesses of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 brands like Kraft Heinz and Kellogg's.
What Happens After Certification
Certification is not a one-time event. Licensed brands are subject to ongoing auditing and surveillance based on their assigned Risk Category. This includes periodic re-testing to confirm continued compliance with standards.
Certifications are renewed annually. The renewal process is streamlined for brands in good standing and involves updated documentation review and, where applicable, follow-up laboratory testing.
Why Get Certified
Third-party certification is the most effective product differentiation strategy in the health food market. It builds consumer trust, strengthens retail placement opportunities, and provides independent verification that your product delivers on its claims.
Read how these brands leveraged their Paleo and Keto certifications for growth: Chomps made the Inc. 5000 list for fastest-growing private companies. Purely Elizabeth used certification to build consumer excitement at the shelf. Kevin's Natural Foods used certification as part of a market analysis and innovation strategy. Artisan Tropic saw measurable increases in consumer and retail interest after certification.
Other Certification Programs
In addition to Certified Paleo, the Paleo Foundation offers Keto Certified for products meeting ketogenic diet standards, Grain-Free Certified for products meeting grain-free and gluten-free standards, and Heavy Metal Tested & Certified for products that meet rigorous heavy metal testing thresholds.
Many brands pursue multiple certifications to maximize their market reach. See our full certification programs overview.