Labeling of djform food supplements
How to properly read the label of a dietary supplement?
In France, the labeling of foodstuffs, including food supplements, is governed by strict regulations aimed at guaranteeing consumer information and safety.
To fully understand the quantities indicated on a food supplement, it is essential to distinguish three key concepts:
Net quantity
Composition per capsule (or other dosage form)
The recommended daily dose (RDD)
1. The net quantity
This refers to the total weight of the product's contents, expressed in grams (e.g., 90 capsules of 390 mg = 35 g). This includes the capsule shell (which weighs between 80 and 100 mg), excipients, and active ingredients. This information is mandatory on the label, but it does not directly reflect the quantity of active ingredients present in the product.
2. Composition per capsule (or tablet, sachet, etc.)
Each active ingredient can be present in a specific form (for example, zinc bisglycinate) that contains a certain percentage of the pure active ingredient (in this case, elemental zinc). For example, zinc bisglycinate standardized to 28% means that 100 mg of this raw material contains 28 mg of actually active zinc. This is the figure that is important for evaluating the product's effectiveness.
3. The recommended daily dose (RDD)
This is the actual daily amount of active ingredient ingested when following the dosage indicated on the label (e.g., 15 mg of zinc per capsule/day). This information is essential because French regulations impose limits on the maximum permitted doses to guarantee your safety.
In summary:
To know exactly what you are consuming, always refer to the "Ingredients per X capsules (or doses)" section on the label. This is where you will find the actual amount of active ingredients provided per day , according to the dosage instructions.