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Understanding the New Supplement Facts Label
By Mary S. Choate, M.S., R.D.

Dietary supplement labels are easier to read and understand, thanks to 1994’s Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Recently enacted Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, as part of the DSHEA law, have made supplements -- and information about them -- much more widely available to consumers. They also put the responsibility onto consumers for obtaining information about the safety and effectiveness of these products.

The FDA does not analyze supplement products before they are sold to consumers. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the ingredient list is accurate and that the ingredients are safe. The manufacturer is also required to make sure that the content matches the amount declared on the label. This article is intended to help Co-op members make informed decisions about herbs and supplements.

In response to DSHEA, the FDA has revised its dietary supplement labeling regulations. After March 23, 1999, all dietary supplement labels must conform to these new laws. Dietary supplement products now contain more complete information, including a clear statement of identity, an information panel titled "Supplement Facts," and a complete list of ingredients.

Statement of Identity
To clearly distinguish supplements from conventional foods, the dietary supplement label shows a statement of identity on the front panel of the product label. The statement uses the terms "dietary supplement" or a term identifying the contents of the product, such as "vitamin C supplement" or "herbal supplement."

Supplement Facts Panel
This panel looks similar to the Nutrition Facts panel on food products with some important differences:

1. The manufacturer determines the supplement serving size. For food products, similar products must use the same serving size.

2. Fourteen mandatory nutrients must be listed only when present in the supplement product, and the source of the nutrient can be listed (for example, vitamin C as ascorbic acid). For food products, these mandatory nutrients must be included in the main list or in a footnote even when the amount is zero. The source of the nutrient is not listed.

3. The ingredient list may be included in the Supplement Facts box; this is not allowed in the Nutrition Facts box.

Additional Supplement Rules
The percent of the Daily Value for nutrients present will be listed on the supplement label. Nutrients and other ingredients for which a Daily Value has not been established will be flagged to indicate this.

The common, or usual, name and the part of the plant used to make botanical supplements (such as root, leaf, or stem) are identified in herbal products.

Botanical ingredients and those ingredients for which there is no official government recommendation will be listed beneath the nutrients having recognized dietary recommendations, separated by a heavy line.

The Ingredient List must include all ingredients not included in the Supplement Facts panel.

Nutrients labeled "high potency" must supply at least 100% of the daily value. "High potency" multivitamins must meet two-thirds of the Daily Value for the vitamins and minerals present in the formula.

The name and place of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor will be listed so consumers may write for more product information.

Things to Think About When Using the New Supplement Label

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Serving Size
It’s important to note that there are no rules that limit a serving size or the amount of nutrients in any form of dietary supplements. This decision is made by the manufacturer and does not require FDA review or approval.

This means that you must look carefully at the percent daily value column in the Supplement Facts box to see if the serving size recommended is adequately meeting your needs. For example, a calcium supplement should contain about 50% of the daily value or 500 mg of calcium in each tablet. This way, you may split your dose or choose to take only one tablet, in addition to the calcium in the foods you choose to eat to meet the 1000 milligrams daily value for calcium.

Read the supplement label carefully to protect yourself from taking too much of a supplement. For example, while vitamin D is essential in keeping bones strong, excessive amounts can cause irreversible kidney and heart damage.

Safety is Your Business
Many supplements on the market have been used for centuries in other countries without detrimental effects, but not all potent supplements and botanicals have been well tested for safety and effectiveness.

Under the DSHEA law, once a dietary supplement is marketed, the responsibility for showing that it is unsafe shifts to the FDA. The agency must prove that the supplement is harmful before it can take action.

This means that the product may be sold until its danger is detected and reported and action against its sale can begin. This is why consumer education is critically important.

Getting Educated
Reviewing reliable sources of information such as books, newsletters, and websites is a way to start. Look for authors with degrees or credentials in the field of nutrition, pharmacognosy, or herbalism.

The best resources advise readers about dietary balance and the use of supplements as supplementary to a good diet, not as a replacement for healthful foods. Your own healthcare provider may also provide you with guidance on safe supplementation for your specific health goals. It is especially important to discuss your current or planned supplement usage with your healthcare provider(s) if you are taking medication or undergoing other kinds of treatment which may be made dangerous or less effective when supplements are added.

At the Co-op, the Heath and Beauty Aid (HABA) department staff can answer questions about safe supplement usage; or ask for me at the information desk. The Co-op HABA manager, Linda Chase, makes a concerted effort to carry only high quality products that have been tested for identity, purity, and potency. (See sidebar)

In conclusion, it is a brave new world of supplements, and armed with reliable information, together with the new Supplement Facts labels, consumers can now make informed decisions about which supplements are best for their health.

Reliable Books
Herbs of Choice and The Honest Herbal, by Varro Tyler

The American Dietetic Association’s Complete Food & Nutrition Guide by Roberta Larson Duyff

The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals by Elizabeth Somer

Recommended Newsletters
The University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter

Tufts University’s Health and Nutrition Letter

Center for Science in the Public Interest, Nutrition Action Healthletter

Consumer Reports on Health

Environmental Nutrition

Dr. Andrew Weil’s Self Healing

Helpful Websites

American Botanical Council

American Dietetic Association

FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements (IBIDS) database

Mayo Clinic Health Oasis