Turn the bottle around. The Supplement Facts panel shows serving size, dose per serving, % Daily Value and the “other ingredients”. Red flags: proprietary blends that hide individual doses, miracle claims, and no third-party testing seal.
Key takeaways
- The Supplement Facts panel tells you serving size, dose per serving, % Daily Value and “other ingredients”.
- For minerals, the elemental amount is what counts.
- Proprietary blends hide individual doses — prefer fully transparent labels.
- A named third-party seal (USP, NSF, Informed-Choice) beats a vague “lab tested” claim.
Who this is for
Anyone who has ever stood in the supplement aisle squinting at a label and wondering what any of it means.
The 60-second scan
Compare serving size against capsules per bottle to work out the true cost per day. Check the dose of the active ingredient — for minerals, look for the elemental amount. Treat % Daily Values in the thousands with scepticism.
Proprietary blends: the biggest red flag
Only the total blend weight is listed, so individual doses are hidden. You cannot judge value or safety — prefer fully transparent labels.
“Other ingredients” matter
Fillers, binders, artificial colours and sweeteners live here. Shorter is usually better.
Trust seals, decoded
USP, NSF and Informed-Choice seals mean independent verification of identity, purity and contaminants. They do not guarantee the product works.
Marketing claims, translated
“Supports immunity” is a loosely regulated structure/function claim, not proof of effect. “Treats” or “cures” on a supplement label is illegal — and a red flag.
Your label checklist
- Transparent doses
- Sensible % Daily Values
- Named third-party seal
- Short “other ingredients” list
- Realistic claims
- Clear expiry or batch information
Your next step
Put the skill to use with our 7 questions to ask before buying any supplement.
Related reading: our complete beginner’s guide to supplements, and supplement ingredients to approach with caution.
Written by the Nourish & Glow editorial team · Published 21 September 2026 · Last reviewed 21 September 2026
General information only — not medical advice. If you have a health condition, take medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to a qualified professional before using supplements.
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