A supplement claims checker scans Amazon listing copy for wording regulators and Amazon treat as drug or disease claims, such as “cures,” “treats,” disease names, and “FDA approved.” On Amazon US, supplements can make structure/function claims (“supports healthy joint function”) with the FDA disclaimer. On Amazon.ca, a natural health product needs an NPN, and its claims must match the product licence.
What does this supplement claims checker look for?
Most suppressed supplement listings fail for the same reasons. The copy says the product acts on a disease, claims an approval that doesn't exist, or uses words Amazon's automated review associates with drugs, pesticides or prohibited ingredients. The checker runs your text through the transparent rule list below. Every rule has a severity, a reason and a safer alternative. Nothing is hidden and nothing is sent to a server. The matching runs in your browser.
Two rules depend on context. Claim verbs such as “treat” or “prevent” are rated high only when a disease term is in the same sentence. On their own (“a tasty treat,” “prevents clumping”) they are rated medium and marked “check context.” On Amazon US, the tool also watches for structure/function verbs (“supports,” “promotes,” “maintains”). If it finds them and no FDA disclaimer, it reminds you that the disclaimer is required.
The full rule list
These are the exact rules the checker applies, last reviewed September 2026.
| Category | Terms flagged | Severity | Market | Safer alternative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disease claim | cure / treat / prevent / heal / diagnose / mitigate | High with a disease term, otherwise Medium | Both | Describe the normal body function the ingredient supports, e.g. "supports healthy joint function", not the disease it acts on. |
| Disease claim | Disease names: cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's / dementia, depression, anxiety disorder, COVID / coronavirus, flu / common cold, infection, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, ADHD, insomnia, obesity, osteoporosis, IBS / Crohn's / colitis, migraine, asthma, eczema / psoriasis / acne, autism | High | Both | Name the healthy function instead (e.g. arthritis → joint comfort, insomnia → restful sleep, flu → immune health). |
| False approval claim | FDA approved / certified / registered / cleared | High | Both | If it is true, say "manufactured in an FDA-registered facility". Otherwise remove it. |
| Facility claim | FDA-registered facility | Low | Both | Keep it only as "manufactured in an FDA-registered facility", only if true, and keep proof on file. |
| False approval claim | Health Canada approved / certified | High | Both | Show the licence number instead, e.g. "NPN 8XXXXXXX". |
| Drug / pesticide claim | antibacterial / antiviral / antifungal / antimicrobial | High | Both | Remove it. For immune ingredients, say "supports normal immune function". |
| Drug / pesticide claim | kills 99.9% of germs / kills bacteria | High | Both | Remove it entirely. |
| Drug claim | anti-inflammatory | High | Both | Try "supports a healthy inflammatory response" (still review-sensitive) or name the ingredient and the normal function it supports. |
| Drug claim | replace / alternative to medication | High | Both | Remove it. Do not compare the product with medicines. |
| Drug claim | relieves pain / pain relief | Medium | Both | US: "supports joint comfort" or "supports recovery after exercise". Canada: use the exact licensed claim. |
| Disease-adjacent | reduces inflammation | Medium | Both | "Supports a healthy inflammatory response" is the softer structure/function form. Still use it with care. |
| Weight-loss claim | lose X lbs / burn fat fast / fat burner | High | Both | "Supports weight-management goals as part of a balanced diet and exercise". |
| Weight-loss claim | appetite suppressant / blocks carbs | High | Both | For fiber-type ingredients, use "helps you feel full between meals", only if supported. |
| Amazon restricted | steroid / SARMs / prohormone / testosterone booster | High | Both | Remove hormone language. Describe the ingredients and general wellness support accurately. |
| Amazon restricted | DMAA / ephedra / kratom / DNP | High | Both | Remove the mention. If the product does contain one, it cannot be sold on Amazon. |
| Amazon prohibited | CBD / cannabidiol / THC | High | Both | Remove it. If the product contains CBD it cannot be listed on Amazon. |
| Amazon screening | hemp extract / full-spectrum hemp | Medium | Both | Use precise wording such as "hemp seed oil (contains no CBD)" only if accurate. Avoid "full-spectrum". |
| Implied claim | detox / cleanse / flush toxins | Medium | Both | Name the specific normal function, e.g. "supports healthy digestion" or "supports normal liver function". |
| Unsubstantiated claim | clinically proven / scientifically proven | Medium | Both | If an ingredient has published studies, say "features [ingredient], studied for [function]" and keep the citations on file. |
| Endorsement claim | doctor recommended / physician approved | Medium | Both | Keep it only if you have documented proof (e.g. a survey or a named formulator). Otherwise remove it. |
| Absolute safety claim | no side effects / 100% safe | Medium | Both | State the facts instead: "third-party tested", "no artificial colors" (if true), and advise consulting a healthcare professional. |
| Exaggerated claim | guaranteed results / instant results / miracle | Medium | Both | Describe what the product contains and what it is formulated to support, without promising outcomes. |
| Promotional (Amazon style) | best seller / #1 / top rated | Low | Both | Remove it. Let reviews and badges do that job. |
| Promotional (Amazon style) | sale / free shipping / limited time | Low | Both | Remove it. Use Amazon's coupon, deal and promotion tools instead. |
| Disease-adjacent | disease / disorder / illness / syndrome | Medium | Both | Remove it, or rephrase around normal function and general wellness. |
| Disease-adjacent | anxiety | Medium | Both | "Supports a sense of calm" or "helps with occasional stress". |
| Required disclaimer | Structure/function wording (supports, promotes, maintains) without the FDA disclaimer | Medium | US | Add the FDA disclaimer to the label (and ideally the description). |
| Canada NHP | No NPN confirmed | High | Canada | Get a product licence (NPN or DIN) before listing on Amazon.ca. |
| Canada NHP | Any health claim | Medium | Canada | Every claim must match the claims approved on your product licence. |
| Canada NHP | Physical label language | Low | Canada | Confirm the label is bilingual (English and French). |
How are Amazon US and Amazon.ca different?
In the US, dietary supplements fall under DSHEA. A supplement may describe how a nutrient or ingredient affects the normal structure or function of the body, such as “calcium supports bone health.” It may not claim to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent a disease. Whenever you make a structure/function claim, the label must carry this disclaimer: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.” The FDA also does not approve supplements. That is why “FDA approved” is always a red flag, while “manufactured in an FDA-registered facility” is accurate if it is true.
In Canada, supplements are generally regulated as natural health products (NHPs). An NHP needs a product licence, shown as an eight-digit NPN (or a DIN for some products), before it can be sold. The licence sets the approved recommended use. So on Amazon.ca the question isn’t just “is this a disease claim?” but “does this match the claims approved on my product licence?” Some licensed NHPs may carry therapeutic claims a US supplement can’t, but only in the licensed wording. Amazon.ca asks for the NPN or DIN, and physical labels generally need the required information in both English and French.
How should you read the results?
- High risk: wording that commonly leads to suppression, removal or regulatory trouble. This includes disease claims, false approvals, drug or pesticide claims, weight-loss promises, and prohibited ingredients like CBD or SARMs. Fix every one before publishing.
- Medium risk: claims that need evidence or careful wording, such as “clinically proven,” “doctor recommended,” “no side effects” or “detox.” Keep them only if you can document them.
- Low risk: Amazon style violations (“#1,” “sale,” “free shipping”) and reminders. They rarely get a listing removed, but they are easy fixes.
The auto-softened draft is a starting point. It swaps disease terms for the matching healthy function (“arthritis” becomes “joint comfort”), turns claim verbs into “supports,” strips promotional words and marks anything that can’t be rewritten automatically with [REVIEW]. A human still has to make it read well and confirm every claim is true and substantiated.
What are the most common supplement claim mistakes on Amazon?
- Keeping the disease in the sentence. “Supports joints affected by arthritis” is still a disease claim. The disease word has to go, not just the verb.
- Hiding claims in the backend or A+. Amazon reviews search terms, A+ content, images and even the brand name. Run all of it through the checker.
- Copying competitor wording. A competitor’s risky listing that is still live is not proof the wording is allowed. Enforcement is uneven and often catches up.
- “Clinically proven” based on one ingredient study. Evidence on an ingredient at a different dose doesn’t prove your finished product works.
- Listing on Amazon.ca before the NPN is issued, or rewording the licensed claim into something punchier.
Restricted categories reward careful copy. In Case 01, a medicated skin care brand in a gated category, compliance-safe listing rewrites were one of the core tactics behind monthly sales growing from $5.1K to $23.6K. If a listing has already been suppressed or removed for claims, our account reinstatement team can help get it back.
Embarc Consulting is an SPN-registered, private-label-only Amazon agency. We built this checker from the claim problems we fix most often in supplement accounts. For the wider picture of titles, bullets and keywords, read our Amazon listing optimization guide or run your copy through the Amazon listing grader.