Food supplements are defined by Directive 2002/46/CE of the European Parliament (transposed to Spanish legislation by Royal Decree 1487/2009) as "foodstuffs the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet and which are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, alone or in combination, marketed in dose form, namely forms such as capsules, pastilles, tablets, pills and other similar forms, sachets of powder, ampoules of liquids, drop dispensing bottles, and other similar forms of liquids and powders designed to be taken in measured small unit quantities;

Food supplements must be taken at the recommended daily dose on the product label, and not exceeded.

Food supplements cannot be a substitute for a balanced diet. A varied diet, rich in fruit and vegetables provides all the nutrients (vitamins and minerals) required.