When buying a caffeinated natural health product online in Canada, treat the product page like a label check, not just a sales page. Health Canada advises consumers buying natural health products online to look for complete label information, approved product licensing information and safe-use directions rather than relying on marketing claims alone.
1. Look for the Canadian product licence information
Health Canada states that natural health products legally sold in Canada require a product licence and licensed products carry an eight-digit Natural Product Number (NPN) or, for homeopathic products, a DIN-HM. If a product is represented as a licensed natural health product, verify the number rather than assuming a familiar brand or professional-looking website is enough.
2. Check the Licensed Natural Health Products Database
Health Canada's Licensed Natural Health Products Database lets shoppers look up licensed products and review information such as medicinal ingredients, recommended use and risk information.
3. Read the caffeine amount and serving directions
For a caffeine product, identify how many pieces, capsules, scoops or millilitres make one serving and how much caffeine is in that serving. Then account for other caffeine sources you use during the day.
4. Look for the information that marketing often hides
Check warnings, recommended use, directions, ingredient amounts and the seller's contact information. Health Canada's guidance on buying natural health products online specifically recommends looking for the information that appears on the product label.
5. Be skeptical of oversized promises
A caffeine product does not need disease claims, guaranteed outcomes or miracle language to be useful. Clear serving information and a realistic description of what the product is designed to do are more valuable.
For background on Canadian licensing, read what an NPN means in Canada. For general caffeine-product comparison, see how to read a caffeine supplement label.