How to read dietary supplement labels

Many people buy and use functional foods according to the uses listed on the packaging or advertisements without checking the ingredients.

The Ministry of Health recommends that functional foods are not drugs and have no therapeutic effect - Photo: DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SAFETY

According to Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, there are currently 9 popular types of functional foods: vitamin and mineral supplements; immune enhancement; weight loss/body maintenance; beauty support functional foods; bone and joint support; cardiovascular support; sleep and nerve support; digestive health enhancement and liver support.

Nowadays, many people buy products based on the uses listed on the packaging or advertisements without checking the ingredients. This makes the use of the product not as effective as expected because some products do not contain enough ingredients to create the effect.

In addition, consumers can use duplicate or overdose. For example, taking a multivitamin and vitamin C separately can cause excess. Or using it incorrectly can cause side effects, such as taking calcium without supplementing vitamin D, which can be ineffective.

Therefore, Dr. Hoang notes that consumers need to determine basic information:

1. Product name (make sure not to confuse functional foods with drugs (functional foods do not have therapeutic effects) and dosage form (tablets, capsules, powder, solution... to suit the needs of use).

2. When reading the product ingredients, pay attention to the main active ingredients of the product and check if the content meets the daily recommendation. Pay attention to additional ingredients including preservatives, flavors, and food colors. Avoid ingredients that cause allergies (soy, gluten, lactose, etc.) or toxic substances (lead, arsenic).

3. Dosage and instructions for use should be carefully read the manufacturer's recommendations, do not arbitrarily increase the dose to avoid poisoning. Especially children, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases should consult a doctor.

4. Check the manufacturer's information. In particular, the manufacturer/importer/distributor should prioritize products from reputable companies with clear addresses. Check the certificate: look for certificates such as GMP, ISO, HACCP, or Ministry of Health licenses. You can check the barcode or QR code to check product information.

5. Finally, check the product's expiry date and avoid buying products that are close to expiry or have damaged packaging.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cach-doc-nhan-dan-thuc-pham-chuc-nang-2025031623351144.htm