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How to Read a Supplement Label: Eight Things to Check
Check eight things: the serving size, the amount of each ingredient, whether a blend hides amounts, the form of each ingredient, other ingredients and allergens, the asterisk claim note, the distributor, and the lot and expiry. The label is the best evidence you have, and it beats any web page.
Written by the PureLung label deskUpdated · 5 min read
Why the label comes first
Ads and web pages can say anything. The label is regulated, printed on the product and the same for every buyer. FDA sets rules for what a Supplement Facts panel must show (FDA, FDA 101: Dietary Supplements). Reading it takes a few minutes and tells you more than most reviews.
1. Serving size and servings
Everything on the panel is per serving. A serving may be one capsule or several. Multiply if you plan to take more. Count servings per container to see how long a bottle lasts.
2. Amounts
Each ingredient should list an amount, in milligrams or micrograms, and often a percent of daily value. If a name has no amount, ask why. Compare the amount with the doses used in studies, which are often listed on reference pages such as the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know).
3. Proprietary blends
A blend lists a total weight and a set of names without separate amounts. The names go from most to least by weight, so you can work out a ceiling for each. Blends hide dose, which makes comparison with research hard.
4. The form
The same nutrient can come in different forms with different strengths, such as magnesium oxide or citrate. A name without a form leaves you guessing.
5. Other ingredients
Fillers, binders, colours and flavours sit here. Check for allergens such as soy, milk, wheat, gluten and shellfish, and for animal-derived shells if that matters to you.
PureLung: 60 capsules a bottlePacks of 1, 3 or 6 bottles · live price shown at checkout · guarantee as printed on the live listing
See packs6. The asterisk and the note
A supplement may describe how a nutrient supports a normal body function, with a note that FDA has not evaluated the statement and that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease (FDA, Q&A on Dietary Supplements). Be wary if a label or ad names a disease.
7. The distributor
The label names a manufacturer, packer or distributor with a place of business. You can search for the company, call it and check for warning letters.
8. Lot number and expiry
A lot number lets a company trace a batch, and an expiry date shows how long it keeps its strength. If either is missing, ask.
Photograph the label, then ask three questions: can I tell the dose, can I tell who is responsible, can I tell the risks? If any is no, pause.
What does the PureLung label say?
The label shows 60 capsules, a serving of 2 and a 600 mg Proprietary Blend of eleven names with no single amount; it names no disease.
| Item | As printed |
|---|---|
| Form and count | Capsules, 60 per bottle; serving size 2 capsules; 30 servings |
| Blend per serving | Proprietary Blend, 600 mg: eleven names, no single amount printed |
| Inactive | Rice Flour, Magnesium Stearate, Silica Dioxide |
| Distributor | MJO, Sheridan, WY 82801 |
See it applied
Our page on the supplement facts for PureLung and the line-by-line post apply these steps to one real panel.
3-bottle pack
3 bottles: 180 capsules
Not listed on the packNot listed on the pack a bottle
Shipping shown at checkout · Guarantee as printed on the live listing
Order 3 bottles
6-bottle pack
6 bottles: 360 capsules
Not listed on the packNot listed on the pack a bottle
Shipping shown at checkout · Guarantee as printed on the live listing
Order 6 bottlesPrices are filled in once the live listing is confirmed. A single bottle is also sold. Check your medicines with your doctor or pharmacist before you order, and keep using every inhaler and prescribed medicine.
FAQ01
PureLung questions people ask
Is a longer label better?
No. Length is not quality.
Do labels show side effects?
Often only general warnings.
What does natural mean?
It has no set legal meaning on supplements.
Can labels be wrong?
Yes. Testing helps.
Where do I report a bad label?
FDA MedWatch.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label images, seller information and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. authorized retailer for PureLung. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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Check your medicines first, keep every inhaler and prescribed medicine, read the directions on the bottle that arrives, then pick a pack of 1, 3 or 6 bottles. The checkout shows the live price, any shipping and the guarantee.
- Checkout runs on the sales site
- Guarantee as printed on the live listing
- Ships from the U.S.