How to read a Supplement Facts panel: a label literacy guide
- Peer reviewed
- GRADE evidence
- Independent
Editorial disclosure: site operated by GenoMAX².
Quick answer
A US Supplement Facts panel must show serving size, servings per container, amount per serving for each ingredient, and percent Daily Value where established. Proprietary blends only list the TOTAL milligrams; individual ingredient amounts are hidden. The asterisk under the table marks ingredients with no established Daily Value.
Red flags
1. Proprietary blends with no individual ingredient doses
2. "Amount per serving" smaller than label claim implies
3. Missing "Other Ingredients" disclosure
4. Missing FDA / DSHEA disclaimer
5. Manufacturer name and address absent
What good labels show
- Serving size in standard units (mL, g, capsules)
- Each active ingredient on its own line with milligrams
- Source plant / form (e.g. "Magnesium (as magnesium glycinate) 200 mg")
- "% DV" column where established
- Full Other Ingredients list (fillers, binders, colors)
- Manufacturer or distributor with city and state
See also
We render our own labels with full ingredient disclosure. Examples at genomax.ai/quality.
FAQ
- What is a proprietary blend?
- Why does my label say "Daily Value not established"?
- Are supplement labels FDA-approved?