Labels must include the word supplement and identify the product as a dietary supplement. The required information on dietary supplement labels includes the name and quantity of each nutrient and dietary ingredient or, for proprietary blends, the total quantity of all dietary ingredients (except inert ingredients) in the blend. Since 1997 all supplements must bear a label entitled “Supplement Facts,” which is very similar in format and content to the “Nutrition Facts” label that appears on all food and beverages marketed in the United States. Labels on herbal and botanical products must state which part of the plant the contents come from.
Some dietary supplements are included in official compendia, such as the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, or the National Formulary. If a supplement is included in a compendium, it must correspond with the specifications of that compendium. For dietary supplements not included in official compendia, the label must correctly identify each substance and the amount in the supplement.
Dietary supplement labels must also contain nutritional information, including ingredients present in significant amounts, and first listing those for which the FDA has established %DVs. Labels must also include the quantity per serving for each dietary ingredient and may include the source of the ingredients.
The FDA published the Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide in 2005. This guide was created in response to numerous questions from the dietary supplement industry regarding all legislation relevant to dietary supplement labels.