The Secret Code on Every Supplement Label

By Vinay Krishna

The ingredient label of a popular weight management shake

Ever found yourself squinting at a supplement label, only to be overwhelmed by a flood of scientific names, numbers like “INS 955,” and a laundry list of ingredients you don’t recognize? 

Take a closer look at the label image above— this is the real label of a popular ‘weight management’ product in India. It begins with Soy Protein Isolate and Sugar, followed by dozens of other items. But here's what matters most: the order of these ingredients is not random — it tells you a lot.

What You See First Is What You Get Most

In India (as per FSSAI) and globally, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight or volume at the time of manufacturing. So those first 3–5 ingredients? They’re the bulk of what you’re paying for.

If your shake lists sugar or flavouring before the herbal or functional ingredients — it's telling you what it’s really made of.

But Wait — Small Doesn’t Always Mean Useless

Yes, ingredients lower down are present in smaller quantities. But that doesn't automatically mean they're ineffective.

Some actives — like Vitamin B12, Zinc, or potent plant extracts — work at microgram or milligram levels. So even if they’re listed near the bottom, they could still be doing their job well.

How to Decode a Supplement label — Fast

• Top 3–5 Ingredients: These dominate the product. They're your nutritional “main course.”

• Middle-to-Lower Ingredients: These are in much smaller quantities. Don’t expect significant benefits from them unless they’re present in clinically effective doses.

• INS Numbers and Additives: Many of these are stabilizers, preservatives, or sweeteners. Safe when approved, but check their role.

Bottom line: Don’t let the front label marketing fool you. Flip the pack. Spend 10 seconds reading the ingredient order in the supplement label. It’s usually the most honest thing on the package.

Written by Vinay Krishna, Industrial Pharmacy Expert, Neu Nutrition. Know More

Edited by Deepu Oommen, Co-Founder, Neu Nutrition Know More