Three checks before you compare
Match the product
Write down the product name, format and container size. Keep the label and any supporting report together.
Use the same units
Compare amounts per container with amounts per container, and amounts per serving with amounts per serving.
Check the batch
Where a report is supplied, match its product details and batch number to the item you are looking at.
Separate the container from the serving
A large number on the front of a bottle can refer to its whole contents. Look for the amount per serving, the stated serving size and the number of servings. If those details are missing or inconsistent, ask the supplier for clarification.
A simple arithmetic example
A fictional container marked 600 mg in total with 30 equal servings would contain 20 mg per serving: 600 ÷ 30 = 20. This is an example of reading quantities, not a suggested dose or a recommendation to use a product.
Read the full ingredient list
Record the ingredients in the product, rather than relying on its front label or marketing name. If you need information about a particular ingredient, use an identifiable source and check that it describes the same ingredient and preparation.
Read a laboratory report as a report
- Does the product name and batch match?
- Is the report dated, and is the testing laboratory identified?
- Which substances or characteristics were actually tested?
- Are units and reporting limits explained?
- Is the complete report available, rather than a cropped badge or screenshot?
Keep unanswered questions visible. A report is evidence of the tests shown; it does not substantiate every statement made in an advertisement.
Keep a comparison note
Use these fields when comparing products: name, format, container size, total stated amount, stated amount per serving, ingredients, batch number, report date and questions for the supplier.
Know what the label cannot establish
Product information alone does not assess a treatment or tell you what is appropriate for your individual circumstances. To understand a research claim, read the original source alongside the preparation and participants described.
Read our research checklist →