Merchient

Merchient’s ingredient library

What can you say about iron in your ads and on your site?

The library supports 4 wordings for iron; the strongest is “Helps form red blood cells and haemoglobin” (strong, 1.4-45 mg elemental iron a day). Avoid wording that names or implies a disease, a drug or a treatment, such as “Treats anemia or iron deficiency anemia”.

Also called: Fe

Reviewed

Not legal advice. This guide shows the wording that published evidence supports at a daily dose, from the sources linked below; it is not a ruling on any claim. Your own product, its form and dose, and your own evidence still need to match the wording you use.

Supported wordings

What you can say.

Strong evidenceWording 1

Claims Facts

“Helps form red blood cells and haemoglobin.”

Daily dose1.4-45 mg elemental iron a day
SupportHealth Canada lists red blood cell formation and the EU authorizes normal red blood cell and haemoglobin formation.
Dose detailsHealth Canada: 1.4-45 mg elemental iron a day for adults 19 and older. EU: at least 2.1 mg, 15% of the 14 mg EU reference value (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII).
FormAny iron form, counted as elemental iron
SourcesHealth Canada monograph: Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements
Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

Moderate evidenceWording 2

Claims Facts

“Supports normal oxygen transport in the body.”

Daily dose2.1-45 mg elemental iron a day
SupportAuthorized in the EU after EFSA review; Health Canada does not list it.
Dose detailsHealth Canada: 1.4-45 mg elemental iron a day for adults 19 and older. EU: at least 2.1 mg, 15% of the 14 mg EU reference value (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII).
FormAny iron form, counted as elemental iron
SourceCommission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

Moderate evidenceWording 3

Claims Facts

“Helps reduce tiredness and fatigue.”

Daily dose2.1-45 mg elemental iron a day
SupportAuthorized in the EU after EFSA review; Health Canada words this only around iron deficiency anemia.
Dose detailsHealth Canada: 1.4-45 mg elemental iron a day for adults 19 and older. EU: at least 2.1 mg, 15% of the 14 mg EU reference value (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII).
FormAny iron form, counted as elemental iron
SourceCommission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

Moderate evidenceWording 4

Claims Facts

“Supports normal immune function.”

Daily dose2.1-45 mg elemental iron a day
SupportAuthorized in the EU after EFSA review; Health Canada does not list it.
Dose detailsHealth Canada: 1.4-45 mg elemental iron a day for adults 19 and older. EU: at least 2.1 mg, 15% of the 14 mg EU reference value (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII).
FormAny iron form, counted as elemental iron
SourceCommission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

How strong the evidence is

Strong evidence
At least two listed sources support it independently at a comparable dose and form, and none disagrees.
Moderate evidence
One listed source supports it as an evidence-based use at that dose, and no listed source disagrees.
Limited evidence
The only support is traditional use, the sources disagree, or the source itself calls the evidence weak.

Wordings to avoid

What to leave out.

Claims Facts

Ingredient: Iron

Wording to avoidReason
“Treats anemia or iron deficiency anemia”Names a disease.Disease
“Cures fatigue”Promises a cure; the supported wording is less tiredness and fatigue.Treatment

Disease: names or implies a disease. Drug: names a drug or presents the product as one. Treatment: promises to treat, cure or prevent a condition.

Sources

Where this comes from.

All ingredient guides

Check the claims on your own site. Free.

Vera, Merchient’s AI employee, reads your site and emails you the riskiest line, why, a safer rewrite and how many more like it she found. Reply, and you get the free first report.

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