Vitamins & supplements
Readers here want to know the product is what it claims to be and that the company will stand behind it if a refund or complaint is needed.
Companies in Vitamins & supplements
290 companies
About Vitamins & supplements
Vitamins & supplements in the United Kingdom covers tablets, capsules, powders, gummies and liquids sold to support general wellbeing, specific nutrient gaps and particular life stages. The category spans everyday multivitamins, single-nutrient products such as vitamin D and iron, and sports and weight-focused formulations. Many of the products are sold as food supplements rather than medicines, which places them under food law instead of the medicines regime.
The companies in this field range from established high-street pharmacy chains and supermarkets to specialist nutrition brands and direct-to-consumer online retailers. Many brands sell through their own websites and social media channels, while others rely on pharmacies, health food shops, gyms and marketplace platforms. Some firms manufacture their own products, while others source from contract manufacturers and sell under their own label.
The Food Standards Agency and local authority trading standards teams oversee food supplements sold in the UK, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency takes over where a product is classed as a medicine. The Advertising Standards Authority and the Competition and Markets Authority govern how products are promoted and sold to consumers. The Food Supplements Association and the British Health Food Trade Association represent manufacturers and retailers in dealings with government and the wider trade.
Questions about Vitamins & supplements
How do I choose a vitamin or supplement company I can trust?
Check that the company is registered with Companies House and that it gives a full postal address, company number and a named contact on its website. Look for a clear list of ingredients with quantities per daily dose, and confirm the product is labelled in line with the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 and the equivalent rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Read the company's terms and privacy policy before you enter any payment details, as these set out your obligations and how your data is used under UK GDPR.
What should I compare between supplement companies?
Compare the ingredient forms, such as magnesium citrate against magnesium oxide, and the stated amount of each nutrient against the UK Reference Nutrient Intake values set by the Department of Health and Social Care. Check whether the product carries a third-party testing mark, a batch number and a use-by date, and whether the company says where its raw materials are sourced. Compare the total cost per month including delivery, and note whether the product is a one-off purchase or a recurring order.
Do I have to sign up for a subscription to buy vitamins online?
No, you do not have to subscribe to buy a product, and a company cannot make a one-off purchase conditional on a subscription without making that clear before you pay. Subscription offers must be presented clearly under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which requires a clear summary of the recurring charge before you confirm the order.
How do I cancel a supplement subscription?
You can cancel a subscription at any time by following the cancellation route the company provides, and the company must make that route as easy to use as the route you used to sign up. Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, you are entitled to a clear, easy cancellation process, and you should keep a dated record of your cancellation request and any reference number you receive. If the company continues to take payments after you have cancelled, contact your bank or card provider to ask for a chargeback or to stop the payment.
What are my rights if the vitamins arrive damaged or late?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the goods must match their description, arrive in satisfactory condition and be delivered within the agreed time or, if no time was agreed, within a reasonable time. If the goods are faulty or late, you can ask for a repair or replacement first, and if that fails you may be entitled to a refund, with the right to reject goods being available within 30 days of delivery.
Can I return supplements I have opened?
Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, you have 14 days from the day the goods arrive to cancel an online order and receive a refund, provided you tell the company in writing. Opened food supplements are not returnable for hygiene reasons, but this is a matter of the company's returns policy and you should check whether the item is sealed or faulty, which would give you separate rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
What do I do if I have a complaint about a supplement company?
Contact the company in writing first, setting out what went wrong, what you want done and a reasonable deadline for a response, and keep copies of all correspondence. If the company does not resolve the matter, you can refer it to an alternative dispute resolution body approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, or to the Financial Ombudsman Service if you paid by credit card and the sum is covered, and you can report misleading claims to Trading Standards or the Advertising Standards Authority.
Who regulates health claims on vitamin and supplement labels in the UK?
The Food Standards Agency and local authority Trading Standards teams enforce food law, and the Competition and Markets Authority enforces consumer protection law against misleading claims. Health claims must be authorised under the UK version of the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation, and claims that a supplement treats or cures a disease are prohibited under the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency rules on medicines.
Is it safe to buy vitamins from a company based outside the UK?
Products sold to UK consumers must comply with UK food supplement rules, so you should check the label for a UK or GB importer address and confirm the company is not selling medicines without authorisation. Buying from overseas adds risk around returns and consumer rights, because the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies to UK-based sellers more directly, and disputes with overseas sellers can be harder to resolve.
What should I look for when reading reviews of supplement companies?
Look for reviews that describe specific orders, dates and the outcome of any contact with customer service, and be cautious of a run of very similar wording posted close together. Check whether the reviews mention delivery, billing and cancellation, as these show how the company handles the purchase itself, and note whether the company replies to complaints in a consistent and factual way.
How do I check whether a supplement company is genuine?
Search the company name on the Companies House register to confirm it is incorporated, the officers listed and the registered address, and check whether it appears on the FCA register if it offers any financial products alongside its supplements. Check the company's VAT number with HMRC and look for a clear, working contact route, as a company that hides its details or uses only a web form may be harder to hold to account.
Can I get a refund if a supplement does not work as advertised?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the product must be as described and fit for purpose, but a supplement cannot be expected to deliver a medical outcome that the label does not claim. If the advertising made claims that were false or misleading under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, you can complain to the company, then to Trading Standards or the Competition and Markets Authority, and seek a refund through the courts if necessary.
Latest reviews in Vitamins & supplements
Tried a few before settling on this
I needed something to help with bloating and had tried two other probiotics first without much luck. This one is the strain the reviews…
The sleep spray
I bought the lavender sleep spray after trying two others from the high street and a different online shop. This one had the best reviews…
Needed a vitamin d check
I needed a vitamin d check because my doctor wanted to know my levels before starting a course of tablets. I looked at a few other places…
Reliable as ever
I've ordered from them for about eight years and nothing much has changed in a good way. The same shakes arrive, the same flavours, and the…
Good stuff, slightly slow to arrive
Good stuff and I've been happy with it for a while now. The one thing is delivery took a few days longer than I expected on my last order…
ordered my first box
Ordered my first box of dailies last week and it was dead easy. Checkout took a couple of minutes and the box showed up the next day. The…