About FDA
FDA Basics: Dietary Supplements
FDA Basics
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Because dietary supplements are under the "umbrella" of foods, FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) is responsible for the agency's oversight of these products. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) |
of 1994, which amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, created a new regulatory framework for the safety and labeling of dietary supplements.
Do You Know…
The Difference Between a Dietary Supplement and a Conventional Food?
Conventional foods are foods that are not dietary supplements. A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that is intended to supplement the diet and that contains one or more "dietary ingredients." The "dietary ingredients" in these products may include more…
FDA Basics Videos
Watch a video about FDA's role in reviewing the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements |
Vasilios H. Frankos, director of the Division of Dietary Supplement Programs in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, discusses the role of the FDA in protecting consumers of dietary supplements. Watch FDA Basics Videos... |
Dietary Supplements and Foods
Is a dietary supplement a food or a drug? What is the difference between a dietary supplement and a conventional food? Are foods that contain added nutrients considered "enriched"? If I take vitamins already, should I be eating foods that are fortified with vitamins as well? Is there such a thing as taking too many vitamins?
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