As defined by Congress in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, which became law in 1994, a dietary supplement is a product (other than tobacco)
- that is intended to supplement the diet;
- contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins;
- minerals; herbs or other botanicals; amino acids; and other substances) or their constituents;
- is intended to be taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid; andis labeled on the front panel as being a dietary supplement.