Labels and choice
Units, symbols and declarations that make it easier to compare products. We explain symbols such as mg, µg, IU, PAO, LOT and EAN, as well as the basic differences between ingredient content, serving size and package weight. This part helps you read the label without guessing what large numbers and abbreviations mean.
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A label brings together information about product contents, use and identification. This category explains abbreviations, symbols and units that can easily be confused when comparing offers. Learn the difference between milligrams and micrograms, what a serving refers to, and how to understand markings such as PAO, LOT and EAN. The entries distinguish the quantity of product in a pack from the quantity of an ingredient in a serving, without treating every number as formulation information. Also check that the website name refers to the same variant, capacity and number of items as the selected package. Read markings in the context of the whole label: one symbol does not replace the manufacturer's instructions. Related terms provide practical support when shopping and make it easier to compare products using clearly described information rather than prominent figures alone.
Found: 35 of 35 terms
Allergens
Substances that may cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to them. In the context of a store, they concern both food and supplements, as well as specific cosmetic ingredients. The information may refer to an ingredient in the recipe or a possible presence resulting from production. The lack of a strong scent and the term natural do not guarantee that the product will be free of allergenic substances.
Batch number — LOT
Marking allowing identification of the production batch of the product. It makes it easier to trace the origin and report a specific package. It is not an EAN code or expiration date, although the manufacturer may use a record containing a date element.
Extended description →Blister pack
A type of packaging with separate compartments for individual tablets or capsules, usually closed with foil. The number of chambers is not equivalent to the number of daily servings. The expiry date and storage conditions still result from the product labeling.
Extended description →Capacity
Information on the volume of the product, most often given in milliliters. The declared amount of contents should be distinguished from the size of the bottle and the weight of the packaging. A larger capacity does not in itself indicate the concentration of ingredients or the number of uses, which depends on the method of dosing.
Extended description →Capsule weight and ingredient weight
The entire capsule includes its contents and, depending on the marking method, also the shell. The amount of a single ingredient may only constitute part of this mass. A large number on the label requires checking the table and the basis for providing the value.
Extended description →Clinical study
Research involving people under a defined protocol to evaluate selected effects or the safety of an intervention. Results depend on factors such as the study population, comparison and formulation. A study of an ingredient does not automatically establish the properties of every product containing it.
Consumer's Laurel
The name of the consumer recognition program as it appears in brand materials and product graphics. This marking refers to the rules of a specific plebiscite and its edition. It does not replace specifications, safety assessments or testing to confirm product performance. It is worth distinguishing the distinction of a brand or line from information regarding the precisely selected variant and packaging.
Extended description →Content of active ingredients
The amount of indicated substances given for a specific portion or unit of a product. It is not the same as the weight of the entire capsule or extract. The list of active ingredients may not include the coating, carriers and other ingredients of the formulation.
Extended description →Contraindications
Circumstances in which use of the product is inadvisable or requires prior assessment. They may concern age, pregnancy, breastfeeding, diseases, allergies or simultaneous use of certain preparations. They vary between recipes and variants. The fact that one product of a given brand is suitable for a specific person does not mean that all others can be used.
Extended description →Dermatologically tested
Information on the conduct of a study involving dermatological evaluation, the scope of which should be justifiable by the responsible entity. The phrase itself does not describe the method, number of participants or result. It is not a guarantee that each person will not react.
Extended description →Detox
A colloquial term used to describe diets and products related to body cleansing. It does not in itself indicate a single substance, process or measurable result. The body processes and removes various compounds on an ongoing basis, including those involving the liver and kidneys. The name detox on the supplement does not mean treating poisoning, removing parasites or replacing the diagnosis of ailments.
EAN - product code
Colloquial term for an identification number usually presented under a barcode, for example EAN-13. Makes it easier to recognize a specific trade item. The number itself does not confirm the authenticity, full composition or validity of the description found on the Internet.
Extended description →HACCP
A system of hazard analysis and critical control points used to ensure food safety. It concerns the recognition of threats and the supervision of important stages of the process. The logo or mention of HACCP is not a confirmation of the effectiveness of the supplement or evidence that the product has medicinal properties. Information about the production system should be separated from the composition, portion and intended use of the preparation.
Extended description →Health claim
Information indicating a relationship between a food or food ingredient and health. Its use in commercial communications is subject to certain terms and conditions. The name of the product or mention of research does not replace the basis for use of a specific claim.
Extended description →Interactions
The interaction of substances that may alter their action, absorption or tolerance. It applies not only to medicines, but also to some supplements and plant ingredients. Combining products with a similar purpose is not always neutral. Before using several preparations, it is worth comparing the compositions and warnings, and providing information about the drugs you are taking to the person conducting the treatment.
Extended description →IU — international unit
A unit describing the biological activity of selected substances, not their universal mass. The conversion to micrograms or milligrams depends on the specific substance and its form. Therefore, one IU conversion factor cannot be used for all vitamins.
Extended description →Microgram - µg
A unit of mass equal to one millionth of a gram. One milligram is equal to one thousand micrograms. It is also written on labels as mcg; confusing it with mg leads to a thousand-fold difference in the quantity reading.
Extended description →Milligram - mg
A unit of mass equal to one thousandth of a gram. The label may refer to an ingredient, an extract or the entire portion. Before comparing the numbers, you need to check what they refer to and whether they are given per capsule, daily portion or the entire package.
Extended description →Milliliter - ml
A unit of volume equal to one thousandth of a liter. It is not a unit of mass and does not always correspond to one gram of product. In the case of liquids, the number of milliliters informs about the volume, and not automatically about the amount of active ingredients.
Extended description →Net weight
The weight of the product contents without packaging. It is not the same as the weight of the entire shipment or the sum of the weight of the active ingredients. In supplements, net weight may also include capsule shells and technological ingredients. The number of capsules, quantity per serving and net weight describe various properties of the packaging, so it is worth reading them together when comparing variants.
Extended description →No added fragrances
A declaration regarding the formulation of the cosmetic, not a promise of complete odorlessness. Raw materials may have their own odor. It does not automatically mean a hypoallergenic product; the full list of ingredients and individual tolerance are important.
Extended description →Nutrition claim
Information suggesting the particular nutritional properties of a food, for example a specific ingredient content. In the European Union, its use requires meeting appropriate conditions. It is not a promise of treatment and should not be equated with a health claim.
Extended description →PAO — period after opening
Information about the time during which the cosmetic is suitable for use after first opening under appropriate conditions. It is often accompanied by the symbol of an open jar and the designation of the months, for example 12M. It should not be confused with the date of minimum durability.
Extended description →Percentage concentration
Method of determining the share of an ingredient in a mixture. Percentage may refer to weight, volume, or any other clearly indicated basis. Without knowing what it refers to, you should not compare it directly with the number of milligrams of the entire serving.
Extended description →Perfume bottle
A term for packaging associated primarily with perfumes, often made of glass and equipped with an atomizer. The bottle is a container, not a unit of product quantity. When comparing offers, the declared capacity, fragrance version and type of dispenser are important.
Extended description →PET
The abbreviation of polyethylene terephthalate, a material used, among others, for the production of bottles and jars. The marking of the packaging material does not describe the composition of its contents. The method of segregation and reuse should be determined based on markings and local rules.
Extended description →Placebo
A comparison substance or procedure without the specific effect being investigated, used in appropriately designed studies. Expectations and context can also influence a person's experience. A personal impression after using a product is therefore different from demonstrating its effect in research.
Pump
A packaging element used to collect or dispense product when pressed. The serving size from one press depends on the design of the dispenser and the consistency of the contents. Do not assume a constant serving volume if the manufacturer has not provided this information.
Extended description →Scientific evidence
Findings from observations and research assessed in light of their quality, limitations and consistency with other results. A user's opinion, traditional use and a laboratory experiment do not provide the same kind of information as well-designed research involving people.
Shelf life
Information specifying how long the product retains the declared properties or can be used under the indicated storage conditions. The labeling method depends on the product category. Restrictions after opening, such as the number of months of use, may also be important. The term should not be transferred between variants or assumed based on a photo of the packaging in the store.
Extended description →SKU - stock code
An internal code used by the seller or manufacturer to identify a product or variant. It may contain letters, numbers and notes about the set. It is not universal: the same product may have different SKUs in different systems.
Extended description →The person responsible for the cosmetic
The entity responsible for the cosmetic's compliance with appropriate obligations on the EU market. Its details are included in the labeling. This may be the manufacturer, importer or other designated entity; does not have to be the same entity as the store selling the product.
Extended description →Unscented product
Designation of a product whose odor is imperceptible or barely noticeable under the declared conditions. It does not necessarily mean the complete absence of fragrances or odorous ingredients. It is worth checking the full composition and exact content of the declaration.
Extended description →Vegan capsule
Capsule with a shell made without raw materials of animal origin, for example from a suitable derived cellulose material. The term may refer to the casing itself, so it does not automatically determine the entire preparation. When assessing the compatibility of a product with a vegan diet, you also need to check the other ingredients and the manufacturer's declaration. Vegan does not mean the absence of allergens.
Extended description →Vegan product
A term referring to the absence of specific ingredients of animal origin in accordance with the declaration or rules of a given label. It requires taking into account the entire recipe, including the capsule shell. It is not a synonym for an ecological product or a guarantee of the absence of allergens.
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