Written by Barry Lees, Founder of The Health Improvers. Last reviewed 31 July 2026.
Short answer: a Great Britain supplement may use an applicable authorised health claim—or, in limited circumstances, an eligible “on-hold” claim—only when the product meets every condition for using it. Food supplements must not claim or imply that they prevent, treat or cure disease.
| Claim type | Example | Main rule |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition claim | “Source of vitamin C” | Must match a permitted nutrition claim and its conditions |
| Specific health claim | “Vitamin C contributes to normal immune-system function” | Must be authorised or otherwise lawfully usable and meet its conditions |
| General health claim | “Supports wellbeing” | Must be accompanied by an appropriate specific authorised claim |
| Disease-risk-reduction claim | An authorised statement about reducing a recognised risk factor | Permitted only when specifically authorised and used with required wording |
| Medicinal claim | “Treats arthritis” or “prevents a UTI” | Not permitted for a food supplement |
What is the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register?
The GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register is the official record of authorised and rejected nutrition and health claims for Great Britain. Only entries shown as authorised may be relied on as authorised claims.
Each authorised entry identifies the relevant nutrient, food or substance, the permitted relationship with health and its conditions of use. A seller must check the complete entry rather than copying a sentence in isolation.
Does the wording have to be exact?
Not always. A degree of flexibility can be acceptable when it helps consumer understanding, but an adapted claim must retain the same meaning as the authorised wording and must not make it stronger.
For example, “supports the normal function of the immune system” may retain the meaning of “contributes to the normal function of the immune system” in an appropriate context. “Boosts”, “stimulates” or “optimises” the immune system would go further.
The claim must also remain linked to the constituent for which it was authorised. An authorised zinc claim does not automatically prove that the complete product, its botanical blend or its brand name provides a wider benefit.
What conditions must a product meet?
The conditions vary by claim. Many vitamin and mineral claims require the product to provide a significant amount in the quantity reasonably expected to be consumed. Other claims specify a particular daily quantity and pattern of consumption.
Examples include:
- the authorised EPA and DHA heart claim requires the consumer to be informed that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250mg of EPA and DHA;
- the authorised glucomannan blood-cholesterol claim requires a daily intake of 4g of glucomannan and its associated conditions;
- vitamin and mineral claims commonly require the product to qualify as a source of the relevant nutrient.
Always use the current register entry. The same percentage rule does not govern every claim.
What are “on-hold” botanical claims?
Some Article 13(1) claims, many relating to botanicals, remain “on hold”. The Department of Health and Social Care publishes the list that may continue to be used in Great Britain while this position remains unresolved.
An on-hold listing is not a general approval. Before using one, a business should confirm:
- the exact botanical and claimed relationship appear on the DHSC list;
- the proposed wording has the same meaning and is not exaggerated;
- the product meets any applicable conditions;
- robust evidence is held to substantiate the claim; and
- the wording is not medicinal or otherwise misleading.
Claims that do not meet those tests should not be used. A cautious description of the plant part, extract form and declared quantity is often more useful to consumers than an unsupported benefit statement.
Can a supplement claim to treat or prevent disease?
No. A food supplement must not claim or imply that it prevents, treats or cures a disease. The MHRA considers explicit wording and the overall presentation, including product names, images, websites, social-media posts, testimonials and customer reviews.
Authorised disease-risk-reduction claims are a limited exception: they concern reducing a recognised risk factor rather than claiming that the food itself prevents a disease. They must be used exactly within their authorised conditions and with the required accompanying statement.
Do the rules apply to product names?
Yes. Names such as “relief”, “treatment”, “detox”, “restores balance” or condition-led product names can create claims even if the surrounding copy is cautious. The same applies to collection names, page headings, metadata and linked context.
A brand should review the consumer’s overall impression, not only individual sentences.
Can a product use “probiotic”?
CAP advises that “probiotic” will generally fall within the GB health-claims rules. Depending on context, it may be treated as a general health claim or a more specific claim. “Live cultures” is usually the more cautious factual term when there is no sufficiently relevant authorised claim.
A narrow authorised claim exists for specified live yoghurt cultures in qualifying yoghurt or fermented milk. It does not apply generally to capsule supplements.
What should buyers treat as warning signs?
- a supplement presented as treating, preventing or curing a named condition;
- “boost”, “optimise” or “supercharge” wording that strengthens an authorised normal-function claim;
- general wellbeing claims with no accompanying relevant authorised claim;
- before-and-after imagery implying an effect beyond an applicable authorised claim;
- testimonials repeating medicinal or unauthorised health claims;
- guaranteed outcomes or precise weight-loss promises;
- “detox” or “cleanse” wording that implies a specific physiological effect without an applicable claim;
- benefits attributed to the whole formulation when the authorised claim relates only to one constituent.
These are prompts to check the evidence and legal basis, not proof that every use of a word is automatically unlawful. Context matters.
A practical compliance check
- Identify whether the statement is a nutrition, specific health, general health, disease-risk-reduction or medicinal claim.
- Find the relevant constituent and current register entry—or eligible on-hold entry.
- Check every condition of use and the quantity actually supplied.
- Keep any adapted wording within the authorised meaning.
- Review the whole page, product name, images, metadata, testimonials and linked context.
- Keep the evidence and current product specification on file.
How we checked this guide
This article was reviewed on 31 July 2026 against current Great Britain government, CAP and MHRA guidance. Regulations, register entries and enforcement guidance can change, so businesses should verify the current position before publishing a claim.
Sources
- GB nutrition and health-claims guidance
- DHSC list and guidance for on-hold health claims
- CAP guidance on food health claims
- CAP guidance on general health claims
- CAP guidance on probiotic claims
- MHRA borderline-products guidance
This is a compliance-oriented consumer guide, not legal advice. Businesses should seek advice from their Primary Authority, Trading Standards or an appropriately qualified adviser for product-specific decisions.
Next, read how to read a UK supplement label or our main guide to choosing a supplement.
Free UK Supplement Label Checklist
Health claims are one part of a complete label check. Our printable guide covers serving sizes, ingredient amounts, NRVs, specialist units, pack duration, cautions and claims.
0 comments