Supplements on Google Shopping: ingredients and claims

Google’s Shopping policy bans some supplement ingredients outright and rules out false or misleading health claims for the rest. Check the ingredient list against the Healthcare & medicines policy first, then keep the copy to what the product contains and how it is taken. Rewording a product Google does not allow is wasted effort.

Critical4 min read

By Edvinas Ivanauskas How the guides are reviewed

Why this matters

Google's “Healthcare & medicines” policy for Shopping ads starts with the product, not the wording. Under unapproved pharmaceuticals and supplements it rules out, “regardless of any claims of legality”, anything on its non-exhaustive list of prohibited pharmaceuticals and supplements, products that contain ephedra, “DHEA and melatonin products, unless specifically mentioned as allowed in an individual country”, hCG sold for weight loss, and “Herbal and dietary supplements with active pharmaceutical or dangerous ingredients”. The country table then says where the exceptions apply: melatonin is allowed in Canada, for example, and DHEA and melatonin are allowed with limitations in the United States. The policy also rules out product names “confusingly similar to anabolic steroids, weight-loss drugs, prescription drugs, controlled substances, or other products that are banned”, and says Shopping ads “may disallow the promotion of any dietary supplement, drug, or other product that's been the subject of any government or regulatory action or warning.”

Then the copy. The same policy rules out “Products that make false or misleading health claims”, sites mainly selling products “that claim to be as effective as anabolic steroids, prescription weight-loss drugs, controlled substances and prescription erectile dysfunction drugs”, and non-approved products marketed as preventing, curing or treating a disease. The health claims guide covers the wording in detail.

In practice: state the ingredients, the amount per serving and how to take it; keep diseases, cures and comparisons with medicines out of the copy; and show the evidence beside any “clinically” or endorsement claim.

The free scan flags health, medical and efficacy claims in product copy, such as “clinically proven” or “cures”, that the page does not back up, so you know which lines to rewrite. The ingredient check against Google's policy is yours, product by product, for each country you target. Every trust check is on the misrepresentation checker.

Typical evidence

Swap the boast for the wording the register already approved

A supplement may describe a nutrient’s role in normal function, in approved wording. It may not claim to treat, prevent or cure anything. The registers exist precisely so you can say something true and compliant — verbatim.

“Testosterone Booster — clinically proven to double your T and cure low T.”

“Contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels” — the authorised claim for zinc. Each capsule provides 15mg zinc (150% NRV).

Use the exact authorised phrase where it applies, then keep the source beside the claim. That gives the shopper a statement they can check.

The public signals this check looks for:

The product contains melatonin, DHEA or ephedra, or an ingredient on Google's prohibited l…
The product contains melatonin, DHEA or ephedra, or an ingredient on Google's prohibited list, and you have not checked the country table.
The name or copy compares the product to steroids, prescription weight-loss drugs or erect…
The name or copy compares the product to steroids, prescription weight-loss drugs or erectile dysfunction drugs.
“Boosts testosterone”, “melts fat” or “fixes low T” written as the product's promise
“Boosts testosterone”, “melts fat” or “fixes low T” written as the product's promise.
“Supports immunity” placed next to colds, flu or a named illness
“Supports immunity” placed next to colds, flu or a named illness.
“Clinically formulated” or “as used by pro athletes”, with nothing on the page to show it
“Clinically formulated” or “as used by pro athletes”, with nothing on the page to show it.

What it looks like once it is right

“Zinc and vitamin D3 capsules. Each capsule: 15 mg zinc, 25 µg vitamin D3. Take one daily with food.” What it contains and how to take it, with no outcome promised.

Common mistakes

Common mistake

“Testosterone Booster Pro — works like steroids without the side effects. Clinically proven to cure low T.” A comparison with a banned drug, a disease claim and an unshown study in one line.

Fix checklist

Check every ingredient against Google's Healthcare & medicines policy and its list of prohibited pharmaceuticals and supplements, for each country you target. The rules differ by country, so check the country table, not only the headline list.
Take products the policy rules out out of your Merchant Center product data. Rewording the page does not change what the product contains.
Rename any product whose name echoes steroids, prescription weight-loss drugs or other banned products.
Rewrite outcome claims as facts: each ingredient, the amount per serving, and how and when to take it.
Remove references to diseases and conditions, and any comparison with a prescription medicine.
Show the study or name the endorsement beside any “clinically” or “as used by” claim, or delete the claim.
Where your market regulates health-claim wording, use wording your adviser confirms; that part is law, not Google policy.

Let the label do the talking

State ingredients and dosages plainly, with the authorised function claim where it applies. Keep the source for each claim; it should be clear without guessing how a private review works.

Supplement facts

Zinc (as citrate)15mg · 150% NRV

Vitamin D325µg · 500% NRV

Magnesium56mg · 15% NRV

“Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels.” — authorised claim, verbatim.

Questions merchants ask

Which supplements can't be advertised on Google Shopping?

Google's Healthcare & medicines policy rules out products on its non-exhaustive list of prohibited pharmaceuticals and supplements, products with ephedra, DHEA and melatonin unless a country is named as allowed, hCG for weight loss, and herbal or dietary supplements with active pharmaceutical or dangerous ingredients. Check its country table for each market you target.

Can I advertise melatonin on Google Shopping?

Only where the policy's country table allows it. The general rule bars DHEA and melatonin products unless specifically allowed in an individual country; the table allows melatonin in Canada, for example, and DHEA and melatonin with limitations in the United States. Check the current table for every country you target.

What can I say about what a supplement does?

State what it contains, the amount per serving and how to take it. Google's policy rules out false or misleading health claims and non-approved products marketed as preventing, curing or treating a disease. If your market has approved wording for health claims, confirm it with an adviser; that is law, beyond this guide.

Remediation

Risk signal

With supplements, the first question is whether Google allows the product to be promoted at all, and only then what the copy says. Check the ingredients against the policy for each country before you polish a single sentence.

PriorityTreat this and any other highest-severity findings as first-priority work, then document each fix.

EvidenceRecord the current state before each change, apply the fix, then capture the corrected state so every change is evidenced.

Similar cases

Sources

Last reviewed 23 Sep 2026.

That is one issue. The library documents 134.

The free scan lists what it finds on your store. The paid report adds the affected pages, captured evidence and step-by-step fixes. Start free, with no account needed.