Misleading Labeling Examples
Below are a few, but not all, of the attempts that some manufacturers take to mislead consumers about the potency and source of the ingredients in their products
Lycopene powder 25 mg
Lycopene Powder is normally available in 1, 2, 5 and 10% concentrations. Be sure to check the label on the product that you’re getting to make sure exactly which concentration it actually contains.
Ginkgo Biloba 50 mg
Ginkgo biloba is normally available in concentrations as high as 50:1. Many manufacturers do not put this information on their label however, making it impossible for consumers to know the concentration of the particular tablets they’re purchasing.
Calcium carbonate or Oyster Shell Calcium 500 mg
Calcium carbonate, which is mainly comprised of oyster shells, is normally about 40% calcium. It is vital to make sure that this has been properly labeled.
Use of the term “Proprietary Blend”
Some manufacturers quote privacy reasons for using the term “proprietary blend” on their labels. Unfortunately, when labeled this way, it is impossible for end consumers to know the exact concentrations of ingredients in the product(s) they are purchasing.
Use of the terms “Organic” or “Natural”.
The terms organic and natural are the 2 of the most overused and oftentimes misleading terms in the vitamin and supplement industry.
Unfortunately, while there are a few organic ingredients available, 99% of the ingredients in most products are not organic. The reason for this is simply that new and stricter regulations have made it extremely difficult for manufacturers to obtain raw, certified organic ingredients.
Likewise, there are a very limited number of “natural” ingredient products available. Other than trace quantities, very few products are 100% natural.
Natural Rosehips Vitamin C 1000 mg
In this instance, the term “natural” pertains to the rosehips only, which typically make up 5% of the total tablet content. Also, at this level, the amount of vitamin C that the rosehips contribute is approximately 1 mg.
Natural Source
In most instances, even when this term is used in a brand or distributor’s name, it has practically nothing to do with the actual source of their ingredients
Natural Arctic omega-3
In most instances the term natural arctic omega-3 (or similar wording) is not indicative of the in-gredient’s source.
Many manufacturers rationalize that at some point in its existence, every ingredient in their product was either “natural” or “organic”. Thus, using these terms on the label is not, in fact, misleading. Unfortunately, the legal definition and use of both terms is very different from the public’s understanding of what they mean.
The fact is, the term “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean that a product or ingredient is healthy. For example, a 100% natural and unprocessed mineral that contains high concentrations of lead would still be “natural”, but it certainly would not be healthy.
Something to keep in mind: if there were actually a 100% natural, organic, high-potency multiple vitamin, it would be approximately the size of a beach-ball.