Label check
Photographing a supplement label for a check
Capture the serving size, both ingredient sections and the product identity. A front photo of a nutrient number leaves out information needed to interpret it.
Part of Medicines
This check covers US labels. Start with the exact package and variant you have, then use the steps below. Explore more supplements checks.
What to look at
- Photograph the name, form and exact variant.
- Include Supplement Facts with Serving Size.
- Include Other Ingredients, directions and relevant warnings.
Read this label.
Photo shows 500 mg on the front but cuts off Serving Size
Illustrative excerpt · not a real productThe number cannot be assigned to one capsule or one serving from this photo alone. Capture the missing panel before comparing it.
Why this reading matters
Read the serving basis before the ingredient amounts. A mineral source can be named beside the nutrient; botanical plant parts and proprietary blends carry additional information that a headline number can hide. US Food and Drug Administration.
Ingredients already declared inside Supplement Facts need not be repeated outside it. Other ingredients, such as capsule materials or formulation ingredients, can appear in a separate list. US Food and Drug Administration.
A supplement label gives ingredients and amounts, but it does not establish whether you need the product. Independent quality seals do not guarantee that a supplement is effective or safe for everyone. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.
What the label cannot settle
Label photos cannot establish product purity or replace professional advice on use.
Put the check to work
Compare the exact words and amounts on your package with the example. If a panel is missing, a photo is unreadable or the manufacturer has not disclosed a detail, keep that detail as unknown. A different flavor, shade or formulation needs its own check.
For the full reading method, use our supplements label guide. The medicines and supplements guide adds context for your needs.
A useful next check
- What a supplement quality seal can tell you
- Reading an expiration date on a supplement
- What Daily Value not established means
Sources read and this label example reviewed on 2026-09-23. Examples are illustrative, not product tests or clinical reviews.
Sources
- Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide: Nutrition Labeling US Food and Drug Administration · fda.gov Serving basis, source forms, botanical plant parts, blends; not historical nutrient reference values
- Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide: Ingredient Labeling US Food and Drug Administration · fda.gov Supplement ingredients outside the Facts panel
- Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · ods.od.nih.gov Supplement labeling, quality seals, safety and effectiveness