How to Read a Supplement Facts Panel in Two Minutes
Serving size, %DV, those little daggers, blends and "other ingredients": a quick tour of every line on a US Supplement Facts panel, using our labels as examples.
In short
Start with the serving size, then read the amount of each ingredient per serving. %DV shows how that compares to the Daily Value. "Other ingredients" lists the capsule and anything that is not an active ingredient.
1. Serving size and servings per container
Every amount on the panel is per serving, so check this first. Our Creatine Monohydrate Powder lists a serving as 1 scoop (5.6 g), with 50 servings per container. Plant Protein is 2 scoops per serving, so a tub lasts half as many days as you might expect if you assumed one scoop.
2. Amount per serving
This is the amount of each ingredient in one serving, usually in milligrams (mg), micrograms (mcg) or grams (g). Vitamins and minerals are listed first, then other ingredients like amino acids, herbs and extracts.
3. % Daily Value
%DV compares the amount to the FDA’s Daily Value for that nutrient. Our Vitamin D3 + K2 has 125 mcg of vitamin D, which is 625% of the 20 mcg Daily Value. A higher %DV is not automatically better; it just tells you how much you are getting relative to that reference.
4. The dagger (†)
A dagger or similar symbol next to an ingredient means "Daily Value not established." That is normal for things like creatine, botanicals and amino acids, which have no official Daily Value.
5. Blends
Some formulas group several ingredients into a named blend and list the total weight, with ingredients in order from most to least. For example, Mind + Energy lists a 255 mg blend and Reds+ lists a 2,000 mg blend of 11 berries and roots. You will know every ingredient and the total, but not the exact amount of each one inside the blend.
6. Other ingredients
Listed below the panel: the capsule (for example cellulose, a vegetable capsule, or gelatin), plus fillers, flavors or sweeteners. Our Creatine Monohydrate Powder lists none. Reds+ lists maltodextrin, natural flavors, citric acid and stevia leaf extract.
7. Allergens and warnings
Look for allergen statements (our Whey Protein and Colostrum+ both contain milk), directions, and warnings such as "Do not drive or operate machinery after taking" on our Sleep+ label.
Tip
Every ZuvoNutrition product page shows a photo of the full Supplement Facts panel, so you can read it before you buy.
Keep reading
- What "standardized extract" means: the percentages on herbal labels
- Reading a probiotic label: CFU and "at manufacture"
This article is general information, not medical advice.
