LABELING

The FDA requires that specific information appear on a dietary supplement label. Labeling refers to the label as well as accompanying material that is used by a manufacturer to promote and market a specific product. It is important to understand that the types of claims that can be made on the labels of dietary supplements differ from those that can be made for prescription drugs. Whereas drug manufacturers may make the claim that their product will diagnose, cure, treat, mitigate, or prevent disease, such claims may not legally be made for dietary supplements. If a dietary supplement is marketed or promoted to cure, mitigate, or treat a disease, under current regulations the product would be considered to be an unauthorized new drug and the manufacturer would be in violation of the regulations and statutes regulating these products.