A leaf on the front of a package can make a product look simple. The information that helps you assess it is usually elsewhere on the label.

In Australia, a plant-based food and a herbal complementary medicine follow different labelling rules. Before comparing claims, work out which type of product you are holding. Then check its ingredients, directions and warnings.

First, is it a food or a medicine?

A packaged food will usually have an ingredient list and a nutrition information panel. The panel shows quantities per serving and per 100 g or 100 mL, which helps you compare similar foods. Some foods are exempt from carrying a panel, so its absence does not automatically mean something is wrong. Food Standards Australia New Zealand explains nutrition information panels here.

A complementary medicine may contain vitamins, minerals or herbal ingredients. If it is included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, look for an AUST L, AUST L(A) or AUST R number on its label. That number identifies its register entry. The labelling requirements for foods and medicines are different, so do not use an AUST number as a test for an ordinary food. See the TGA’s guide to AUST numbers.

Reading a plant-based food label

Start with the ingredient list. Ingredients are listed in descending order of the weight added when the food was made. If a particular ingredient is prominent on the front of the pack, the list helps you see where it sits in the overall recipe. FSANZ explains ingredient and percentage labelling.

Next, compare the nutrition panel per 100 g or 100 mL when looking at similar products. Serving sizes can differ between brands. Check the panel for the nutrients relevant to your choice, rather than relying on one front-of-pack phrase.

If you have a food allergy, read the allergen declaration each time you choose a product. Food businesses must declare specified allergens when they are present as ingredients, including in certain additives or processing aids. FSANZ provides consumer guidance on allergen labels.

For an example of a plant-derived food, beeW has a separate guide to hemp seed meal. That article is about a food ingredient, not a medicine.

Reading a complementary medicine label

The AUST number is a useful starting point, but the letters matter:

• AUST L identifies a listed medicine. The TGA has not assessed that individual medicine’s efficacy before supply.
• AUST L(A) identifies an assessed listed medicine whose health claims have undergone a pre-market efficacy assessment.
• AUST R identifies a registered medicine that has undergone pre-market efficacy assessment.

These distinctions come from the TGA’s explanation of how it regulates medicines. An AUST L number therefore should not be read as a promise that a product will work for you.

Use the number to find the product in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. Check that the product name matches the package. Then read the label itself for ingredients, directions, warnings and the exact claim being made. If you are unsure about an ingredient or take other medicines, bring the package and a list of what you use to a pharmacist or doctor. The TGA advises consumers to tell their doctor about complementary medicines, because interactions and side effects are possible.

What does “natural” tell you?

“Natural” describes an origin or product claim. On its own, it does not establish that a product is safe, effective or suitable for everyone. The TGA requires natural claims in therapeutic goods advertising to be accurate and supported, and warns against implying that natural products are safer or more effective merely because they come from nature. Read the TGA’s guidance on natural claims.

A better question is: What exactly is in this product, what does the label claim, and what evidence supports that claim?The answer may differ between two products that use the same “natural” wording.

A quick label-checking routine

Before choosing a product, ask:

1. What type of product is this? Read it as a food label or a medicine label, as appropriate.
2. What are the ingredients? Check the full list, not just the ingredient highlighted on the front.
3. What does the claim actually say? A general wellbeing claim is different from a claim about treating a condition.
4. What directions and warnings apply? Read them before use, particularly if you take other medicines.
5. Can I verify the details? For an ARTG medicine, use its AUST number to find the official entry.

General information only. This article does not provide medical or dietary advice.