Vegan and vegetarian
There is no legal definition of “vegan” for food in the UK, but the claim must not mislead. Check every ingredient, including capsule shells, coatings, vitamin D3 sources and processing aids. Independent schemes can certify vegan products if you want a logo.
Natural
The Food Standards Agency has guidance on “natural”: broadly, ingredients produced by nature, not the work of people, and not significantly interfered with. Synthetic vitamins and many additives sit uneasily with a “natural” claim.
Clean, pure, detox
“Clean” has no definition, so it must not imply something you can’t prove. “Detox” implies a health benefit and is effectively an unauthorised health claim.
Regulated nutrition claims
Some words are nutrition claims with fixed conditions. “Source of vitamin C” needs at least 15% of the NRV per daily dose; “high in vitamin C” needs at least 30%. “Sugar free” means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Green claims
“Eco”, “sustainable” and “plastic free” are environmental claims and must be specific and provable. See our recyclable labels page.
Not legal advice. This guide covers the general rules for food supplements sold in Great Britain. Check your own product with a regulatory adviser, your local Trading Standards team or your Primary Authority partner.