Labelling of dietary products in USA

Firstly, in the United States a “diet supplement” is defined as a product intended for supplementing a person’s diet. What in Europe would be food supplements. These are products that include or contain one or more of the following dietary ingredients: A vitamin, a mineral, a herb or other botanical product, an amino acid, a dietary substance for human consumption to supplement a person’s diet by increasing their dietary intake, or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract or a combination of any of the ingredients listed above.

With regard to the labelling of dietary products in USA, the following should be taken into account:

• Five declarations are required: 1) the statement of identity (name of the dietary supplement), 2) net quantity of contents statement (quantity of dietary supplement), 3) the nutrition facts labeling, 4) the list of ingredients and 5) the name and business address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor.
• These statements should appear on the label’s front panel (main presentation panel) or in the facts panel (in general the label panel immediately to the right of the main presentation panel), depending on how the consumer sees it when in front of the product).
• A prominent, visible and easy-to-read letter or font size is required. The letters must be at least one sixteenth of an inch (1/16) in height based on the lower-case letter “o” and cannot be three times higher than its width unless you apply for an exception.
• Wherever the dietary supplement data are listed, it must also indicate the names and quantities of dietary ingredients present in the product, the “serving size” and the “servings per container”.

It should indicate total calories, calories from fats, total fats, saturated fats, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, dietary fibre, sugars, proteins, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron when they are present in measurable quantities. Do you need help reviewing product labels? We are specialists in food supplements. We advise European businesses on the labelling of dietary products in the USA.