Military Energy Gum Becomes the First Gum to Earn NSF Certified for Sport® Certification

31 March 2026

The human health organization’s rigorous independent certification includes testing for potentially harmful levels of contaminants and 295+ athletic banned substances

Today, NSF and Ford Gum announced that Military Energy Gum (MEG) has become the first-ever gum to earn certification to NSF’s Certified for Sport®, marking a significant milestone in the functional gum and sports nutrition categories. NSF Certified for Sport® is a leading third-party testing and certification program that helps protect athletes and consumers by rigorously evaluating products for harmful ingredients and substances banned in sport.

MEG, a caffeinated chewing gum with 100mg per piece, was developed 20+ years ago from the Military Fatigue Relief Research Program as a trusted solution to help warfighters combat the effects of sleep deprivation and fatigue. After numerous clinical trials to validate its safety and effectiveness, MEG was recommended by the Committee on Military Nutrition Research (CMNR) in 2001. Since then, MEG has been distributed to troops around the world in millions of military rations. MEG is now also available to athletes, law enforcement, first responders and other civilians.

We are extremely proud to announce NSF Certified for Sport® certification for our MEG product. As a Marine Corps veteran, it means a great deal to me that we’re providing both our warfighters and civilians with a product that meets such a rigorous testing and quality standard. Service members rely on products they can trust, just like athletes do, and this certification reinforces that commitment.

Scott Lerner, CEO, Ford Gum

NSF Certified for Sport® was designed to help athletes and consumers make more knowledgeable decisions when choosing supplements and functional foods. The program tests products for over 295 athletic banned substances, as well as potentially harmful levels of specific contaminants like lead and arsenic. Product formulation, label claims and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliance are also verified as part of this supplement certification.

Certified for Sport® is the only certification recognized by Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, the Canadian Football League, and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA); it is also recommended by the NFL, NBA, PGA Tour, LPGA, CCES, ASPDA, iNADO, Ironman, NASCAR, Taylor Hooton Foundation and many other organizations seeking to mitigate the risks of contaminated dietary supplements.

NSF welcomes Military Energy Gum (MEG) to the Certified for Sport® program as the first gum product to earn this certification. Expanding Certified for Sport® into a new product format reflects the continued growth of the performance marketplace. NSF is focused on protecting and advancing human health worldwide. By meeting our rigorous testing requirements, MEG demonstrates its commitment to quality and product transparency.

David Trosin, Senior Director, Nutrition and Wellness, at NSF

With certification, MEG is included in NSF’s online listing of certified products and on the NSF for Sport app. The app features enhanced search capabilities, side-by-side product comparisons and a UPC barcode scanner to find Certified for Sport® supplements.

Learn more about Military Energy Gum (MEG) and Certified for Sport® Program.

About Ford Gum

Founded in 1913, Ford Gum is a top manufacturer and co-manufacturer of assorted gums, confections, and health-related products for leading American brands, including the iconic shredded bubblegum, Big League Chew.

About NSF

NSF is an independent, global services organization dedicated to improving human health for more than 80 years by developing public health standards and providing world-class testing, inspection, certification, advisory services and digital solutions to the food, water and wellness products industries. NSF has 40,000 clients in 110 countries and is a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety and Water Quality.