A food supplement label is small, but most of what is on it is there because UK law requires it. Here is how to read one, using the back of our ACV MetaBoost pot as a worked example.
The name: “food supplement”
A food supplement must be sold under the name “food supplement”, which tells you it is regulated as a food, not a medicine. The label must also name the substances that characterise the product. These rules are in the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, with matching rules elsewhere in the UK. The front of ACV MetaBoost says “Food Supplement” and describes an apple cider vinegar blend with cayenne, ginger, green tea, turmeric, black pepper and chromium.
Ingredients, heaviest first
The ingredients list runs in descending order by weight, and the capsule counts too. On ACV MetaBoost, apple cider vinegar powder comes first, followed by stoneground brown rice flour and the capsule shell, made from a plant-cellulose material called HPMC. Chromium picolinate, the form of chromium used, comes last, because each capsule holds only a tiny amount. Plant ingredients also carry their Latin names, such as Zingiber officinale for ginger.
Allergens stand out
The 14 major allergens, such as fish, milk and soya, must be emphasised in the ingredients list, usually in bold. ACV MetaBoost’s list has none. On BrainLink, by contrast, the phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine come from soya, and on LuminaGlow the marine collagen comes from fish. If you have an allergy, check the list each time you buy.
Amounts and %NRV
The table gives each amount in numbers, and vitamins and minerals also show a percentage of their Nutrient Reference Value (NRV). Check the heading: some tables are per capsule, others per daily dose.
ACV MetaBoost’s table is headed “Each capsule provides”. It lists chromium at 10 µg, which is 25% of the NRV of 40 µg. At the recommended 2 to 3 capsules a day, that is 20 to 30 µg, or 50 to 75% NRV.
Under “Also provides” come apple cider vinegar (400 mg) and five plant ingredients, from green tea leaf (30 mg) to black pepper (1.5 mg). These have no NRV, so there is no percentage. The plant ingredients carry a double asterisk, explained as “equivalent weight from extract”: the extract in each capsule was made from that weight of the original plant. The extract itself usually weighs less, which is why the table and the ingredients list can run in a different order.
Directions and “do not exceed”
ACV MetaBoost’s directions read “Take 1 capsule, 2 to 3 times per day or as advised”, so no more than three capsules a day. The next line, “Do not exceed the recommended daily intake”, is a warning every food supplement must carry. Taking more is never a shortcut, and for some nutrients too much can be harmful.
The mandatory statements
Every food supplement label must include:
- the name “food supplement”
- the recommended daily dose
- a warning not to exceed that dose
- a statement that food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet
- a statement that the product should be stored out of the reach of young children.
ACV MetaBoost’s label says “Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle”, and also advises you to consult your doctor before taking supplements or changing your diet. Any health claim must be authorised and tied to the nutrient that carries it, for example: “Chromium contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism.”
Storage, best before and origin
The storage line reads “Store in a cool dry place, out of reach of children. Best before end on the base.” A best-before date is about quality rather than safety, but we recommend finishing a pot before then. The label also says “Made in the United Kingdom” and, because the main ingredient comes from elsewhere, adds that the apple cider vinegar does not originate from the UK.
Who is responsible
Every label must give the name and address of the business responsible for the food. On ACV MetaBoost that is Genovacore, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX, with our email address and website.
See ACV MetaBoost’s label information, with one capsule’s contents drawn to scale, on the ACV MetaBoost page. For every ingredient across our four formulas, see ingredients A–Z, and if anything on one of our labels is unclear, contact us.
