Principle of consider purchasing, dietary supplement labels and Thai’s laws related to the consumer protection system.

Principle of consider purchasing Is that dietary supplement necessary ? Is that dietary supplement effective ? Is that dietary supplement safe ? Is that dietary supplement on reasonable price ? Do you have any conditions contraindicated for that dietary supplement ?

Is it necessary ?

How do you know ? Too High OK Too Low

Which is the main energy source ?

Which has the lowest calcium ?

How much nutrients do we need ?

Nutrition fact RDI = Recommended Dietary Intake The average daily intake level of a particular nutrient that is likely to meet the nutrient requirements of 97-98% of healthy individuals in a particular life stage or gender group. 

Is it safe ? Thai Fda / standard / law -> quality, label and advertisement

dietary supplement FOOD ? MEDICINE ?

Consumer should know Dietary supplement is categorised as food not medicine No indication for prevention, treatment and cure any diseases Suitable for a healthy individual NOT a patient Food add-on (people who expect beneficial health results) Advertise as medicine (can prevent, treat or cure disease) Advertise as necessary treatment Claim only benefits NOT drawbacks

Consumer should know May not have a scientific proof of the benefit or side effects May have scientific studies but show inconsistent effects May show beneficial effects in animal studies May show beneficial effects in small human studies The amount is less than the effective dose Overclaim -> increase price

Consumer should know Easily accessible: sold in drug store without prescription and consult Consumer attitudes Natural products or nutrients, even ingested in large amount, are safe Natural products or nutrients do not cause allergy or harm People may believe word of mouth (celebrity or salesperson)

Food act 1979 Dietary supplement is categorised as a controlled food meaning the government has set the quality and standard for these foods to be strictly followed Product registration from Thai FDA (Or Yor) Get permission for label Warning in label to protect misunderstanding or misuse

Thai FDA quality controls Specific properties of the product Pathogen E.coli Toxic substances Amount of vitamins and minerals >15% but <100% of Thai RDI

Dietary supplement label In Thai with or without foreign language Name of product with “dietary supplement” Registration number (Or Yor) Name and address of manufacturer and distributor or importer and country of the manufacturer Amount of product i.e. 30 capsules, 500 ml, 500 g

Dietary supplement label Ingredient: name and amount / esp. active ingredient Preservative added (if use) Natural colouring or artificial colouring added Natural flavouring or artificial flavouring “ควรกินอาหารหลากหลาย ครบ 5 หมู่ ในสัดส่วนที่เหมาะสม เป็นประจํา” “ไม่มีผลในการป้องกัน หรือรักษาโรค” in bold and contrast color

Dietary supplement label Instruction / direction of use Storage (if any) Expiring date / best before date Warning Health claim

Registration number (Or yor) ..... digits Check -> http://www.fda.moph.go.th/ If reg. no. could not be found, call 1556 (Thai FDA hotline) Recently registered Fake number

Health claims Nutrient function claim: Nutrient content claim, Comparative claim, Nutrient function claim e.g. source of calcium, high in fibre and low in fat, less than or fewer, reduced, lite, light, added, fortified, enriched Other function claim: specific beneficial effects, improvement of function Reduction of disease risk claim: health-related condition, alter major risk factor

advertisement Thai FDA approved OrYor number: indicates approved product not approved ads Ads must completely unchanged from the approved version ฆอ. .../... Food ads ฆท. .../... Medicine ads ฆพ. .../… Medical equipment

Food ads should not mention.. Can prevent, treat or cure Great, best, miracle, pure, only one, special, etc. ยอด ดีเลิศ เด็ดขาด อันดับหนึ่ง ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ มหัศจรรย์ ที่สุด สุดยอด เยี่ยม เยี่ยมยอด ยอดเยี่ยม ดีที่สุด เลิศที่สุด ชนะเลิศ เลิศเลอ ดีเด็ด สุดเหวี่ยง วิเศษ ฮีโร่ บริสุทธิ์ ล้ำเลิศ ชั้นเลิศ เลิศล้ำ เด็ด หนึ่งเดียว พิเศษ ยอดไปเลย เยี่ยมไป เลย ที่หนึ่งเลย โดดเด่น ปาฏิหาริย์

Food ads should not mention.. certified (quality or beneficial effects) by famous persons, celebrities, health professionals, scientific or health organisation, WHO or Ministry of Health False properties or overclaim that can cause misunderstanding Cure cancer, Detoxify, Boost metabolism, Increase breast size, Normal menstruation cycle, Prevent acne, Improve eye sight, burn fat, skin whitening, anti wrinkles, prevent baldness, etc.

Food ads should not .. Using photos or symbols that are not related to the product or can mislead the consumer Intentionally conceal side effects or harm so the consumer buy the product