How a US Supplement Facts panel is built

Dietary supplements sold in the United States carry a Supplement Facts panel instead of the Nutrition Facts label used on foods. The rules are in 21 CFR 101.36, and many of the reference values and rounding rules it relies on are in 21 CFR 101.9. This guide walks through the panel from top to bottom. Each section points to the provision our generator implements.

1. Title

The panel is headed “Supplement Facts”. The title is set in a type size larger than everything else on the panel, and the panel is enclosed in a box with hairlines (21 CFR 101.36(e)).

2. Serving information

Below the title are the serving size (for example “Serving Size 2 Gummies”) and the servings per container. A heavy bar separates the serving information from the nutrient listing. Servings per container are calculated from your fill. If the fill varies, “About” may be used.

3. Column headings

“Amount Per Serving” sits above the amounts and “% Daily Value” above the percentages, with a light bar beneath the headings.

4. Dietary ingredients with a Daily Value

Nutrients that have a Reference Daily Intake or Daily Reference Value, such as calories, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals, are listed first, in the order the regulation sets (21 CFR 101.36(b)(2)). Each one shows its amount in the specified unit and a %DV:

• Vitamin A in mcg RAE, folate in mcg DFE, niacin in mg NE and vitamin E in mg. Vitamin D is declared in mcg and may also be shown in IU (21 CFR 101.36(b)(2)(ii)(B)).
• %DV = amount ÷ Daily Value × 100, declared to the nearest whole percent. For example, vitamin C 60 mg ÷ 90 mg = 67%.
• Calories, fat, carbohydrate, sugars and protein use the rounding increments in 21 CFR 101.9(c). For example, calories under 5 are declared as 0, and from 5 to 50 they round to the nearest 5.

5. Other dietary ingredients

Dietary ingredients without a Daily Value are listed below, for example botanicals, amino acids and other compounds. They carry the symbol “†” in the %DV column, which refers to the footnote “Daily Value not established”. Botanicals must name the part of the plant used (21 CFR 101.36(d)(1)), for example “Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) fruit”.

6. Proprietary blends

A proprietary blend is listed with its name and total weight. Its components are listed in descending order of predominance by weight, and the blend amount is the total of its dietary ingredients (21 CFR 101.36(c)). See our guide to proprietary blends.

7. Footnotes

When nutrients with a Daily Reference Value are declared, the panel includes the footnote “Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.” Any “†” entries need the “Daily Value not established” footnote.

8. Type sizes

Body text is at least 8 point. Column headings and footnotes are at least 6 point. Smaller sizes are permitted for packages with limited labeling space (21 CFR 101.36(i)(2)). Choose the matching package size in the generator so these limits are applied.

What sits outside the panel

The statement of identity (for example “Dietary Supplement”), the net quantity of contents, the other-ingredients statement, allergen declarations, directions, warnings and the name and place of business are labeling elements outside the panel. They have their own rules, which this guide does not cover.

Build a panel with the Supplement Facts generator, or check an existing label with the label checker.