LABEL LITERACY, SUPPLEMENTS
What Does “Daily Value Not Established” Mean on a Supplement Label?
A plain-English look at the little symbol on a Supplement Facts panel: what “Daily Value Not Established” means and why it is not a red flag by itself.
August 15, 2026
Some supplement labels come with an asterisk, dagger, or tiny note that says “Daily Value Not Established.” It can look ominous, like the label is withholding a secret. Usually, it is doing the opposite: it is telling you that a particular ingredient does not have an established Daily Value reference.
What the note means
Daily Values are reference amounts used for certain nutrients on labels. Not every dietary ingredient has one. FDA guidance describes “other dietary ingredients” as ingredients without established Daily Values and explains that a label uses a symbol in the % Daily Value column that points to the “Daily Value Not Established” note. [1]
In plain language: the label can identify the ingredient and show its listed amount, but there is no official Daily Value percentage beside it to compare against.
Where you may see it
Look at the Supplement Facts panel rather than the loudest claim on the front. Ingredients with established Daily Values may have a percentage in the right-hand column. Other dietary ingredients can appear below them with their listed amount and a symbol leading to the “Daily Value Not Established” footnote.
- It is a label-reference note, not a product review.
- It does not automatically mean an ingredient is good, bad, safe, or unsafe for you.
- It does not mean the ingredient is missing from the product.
- It means there is no established Daily Value percentage for that ingredient on the label.
Why the whole label still matters
A single footnote cannot answer every product question. Read the ingredient names, the listed amount, directions, warnings, other ingredients, and any allergen information together. If the label feels more like a riddle than information, it is reasonable to ask the manufacturer for clarity before buying.
FDA guidance says these other dietary ingredients are listed in the Supplement Facts panel after ingredients with established Daily Values, using their common or usual names and their amount by weight per labeled serving. [1] That gives you a useful starting point, even when the percentage column cannot give you a shortcut.
Keep the question appropriately boring
The most helpful question is not “Is this tiny symbol a miracle or a disaster?” It is “What does this label tell me, and what does it not tell me?” That approach keeps the focus on the information actually in front of you.
For individual health questions, medicines, allergies, pregnancy, or nursing, speak with an appropriate qualified professional. A label is useful information, but it is not a substitute for personal advice.
The short version
“Daily Value Not Established” means the label does not have a Daily Value percentage to show for that ingredient. Read the rest of the panel, ask clear questions, and let a small asterisk stay a small asterisk.
Find more no-drama label explainers in the SWALO Journal.