Learn
Reference explainers on how Australian supplement labels work.
How to read a supplement label
A gentle walkthrough of every part of an Australian supplement label, from the AUST L number to the active ingredients, doses and excipients.
What an AUST L number means (and what it doesn’t)
What an AUST L number confirms about a listed medicine, what it doesn’t, and how you can look it up on the ARTG yourself.
AUST L vs AUST R: what’s the difference?
Listed (AUST L) and registered (AUST R) medicines reach the shelf through different levels of TGA assessment. Here’s what that means for you.
Proprietary blends explained
What a proprietary blend is, why it hides individual ingredient amounts, and how to spot one on a label.
Elemental vs salt-form dosing
Why labels list compound forms like magnesium oxide, how the elemental amount differs, and how to work out the amount that counts.
Creatine Supplements in Australia: food or medicine?
Creatine can be sold in Australia as a sports food or as a listed medicine. Here’s how to tell which one you’re holding, and what each one means.
Has your teenager asked you to buy creatine?
Creatine is all over teenagers’ feeds. A pharmacist’s guide for parents: what Sports Dietitians Australia advises, what the label says, and how to have the conversation.
Is there vitamin B6 hiding in your magnesium?
Many magnesium, zinc and multivitamin products also contain vitamin B6. A pharmacist explains why the TGA is concerned, how to spot B6 on a label and how to add up your total.
Magnesium RDI in Australia: how much do you need each day?
How much magnesium do you really need? A pharmacist gently walks you through the Australian daily targets, the 350 mg upper limit for supplements, and how to find the number that counts on your label.
How much zinc should I take a day?
A pharmacist gently explains the Australian daily zinc targets by age, the 40 mg upper limit, how to read zinc on a label, and when you might need a little more.
Is 1000 IU of vitamin D enough?
What does 1000 IU of vitamin D mean, how does it compare with Australian daily targets and the upper limit, and who might need more? A pharmacist explains, gently and simply.
Creatine for women in Australia: what a pharmacist checks first
Thinking about creatine? A pharmacist and mum explains what to look for on an Australian label, the “weight gain” question, and when to check with your pharmacist or GP first.
Magnesium at Chemist Warehouse: every product graded by a pharmacist
Every magnesium glycinate and popular magnesium tablet at Chemist Warehouse, graded by a registered pharmacist: how much magnesium you get a day, the cost per 100 mg, and which products go over the upper limit at their top dose.
Magnesium glycinate in Australia: how much you’re really getting, and the top-rated options
Magnesium glycinate and bisglycinate explained by a pharmacist: how much magnesium is really in each capsule, how much you need, what to know if you take it at night, and the top-rated products in Australia.
Check a supplement before you buy
Scan a label or AUST L number to see a grade and a full breakdown.
- STEP 1ScanScan the barcode or enter the AUST L number
- STEP 2CheckWe check it against the TGA register and Australian limits
- STEP 3SeeSee your grade and your daily totals across everything you take
Built by a registered pharmacist · Works in your phone’s browser