Read the Label - Natural Health Products

This content was archived on June 24, 2013.

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

Transcript - Read the Label

Describer: Wide shot of aisle in store showing products. Person is selecting products, putting them into a basket or small cart.

Narrator: There are thousands of natural health products on the market in Canada. Everything from vitamin and mineral supplements, to herbal remedies. Do you ever wonder whether anyone is checking the safety of these products?

Describer: Graphic of Michelle Boudreau, Director General of the Natural Health Products Directorate, Health Canada. Michelle Boudreau on Camera.

Michelle Boudreau: Natural health products sold in Canada are regulated by the Natural Health Products Regulations. The Regulations provide consumers with assurances that what is on the product's label is in the bottle.

Describer: Close up of Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM). Close up of label and 8-digit number.

Michelle Boudreau: The easiest way to check for these assurances is to look for a Natural Product Number or Homeopathic Medicine Number on the label. The eight digit number means the product has been reviewed and assessed by Health Canada.

Describer: Graphic of "IT'S IMPORTANT TO READ THE LABEL". Graphics on label of: dosage, the ingredients - medicinal and non medicinal, risks, prescription drugs, and existing conditions.

Michelle Boudreau: So it is important to read the label. It shows things like dosage, all the ingredients both medicinal and non medicinal, and any risks associated with the product like whether it reacts with prescription drugs or shouldn't be taken by people with conditions like diabetes for example.

Describer: Person in store reading the package label, perhaps choosing one item putting it on the shelf and taking another.

Narrator: What about the claims on the label? How do you know if the product works?

Describer: Graphic of Julia Fogg, BSc, ND, Naturopathic Doctor and Natural Health Products (NHPD) Assessment Officer

Julia Fogg: Well, that is an important part of the licensing process. The Natural Health Products Directorate reviews products for three things: quality, safety and efficacy or if you prefer, health claims.

Describer: Reading through information in manual. Graphics of health claims authorized such as: traditional use of the product, published studies, established product standards, small scale patient trials.

Julia Fogg: We do this by looking at information provided by the manufacturer or distributer. The health claim authorized by Health Canada is based on the traditional use of the product, published studies, established product standards or small scale patient trials depending on the type of product we are assessing. There is a difference between a well-known product which as been used safely for generations and a new formulation or a new proposed use for a product.

Describer: Michelle Boudreau on Camera.

Michelle Boudreau: The important thing from a consumer standpoint is to look at the label.

Describer: Close up of label showing number.

Michelle Boudreau: If there is no eight digit Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) - it means Health Canada has not assessed the product for safety or reviewed the health claim.

Describer: Wide shot of aisle full of products.

Narration: More natural health products are being licensed by Health Canada every day. So far, over 20,000 products have been licensed. Information on these licensed products is available in Health Canada's Licensed Natural Health Products Database.

Describer: Graphic: "REMEMBER - READ THE LABEL"

Narration: Remember - You have to read the label.