Mushroom guide
How to Read a Mushroom Supplement Label
NPN, extract ratio, polysaccharides: what the numbers on a Canadian mushroom supplement label actually tell you.
A mushroom supplement label packs a lot into a small space. Once you know what to look for, it takes about thirty seconds to tell what is really in the bottle. Here is how to read one, using Canadian labels as the example.
1. Find the NPN
In Canada, supplements like ours are licensed by Health Canada as natural health products. Each licensed product gets an eight-digit NPN (Natural Product Number), printed on the label. If you see “NPN” followed by eight digits, the product has been reviewed and licensed for sale in Canada.
You can look up any NPN in Health Canada’s Licensed Natural Health Products Database to see the approved ingredients, dose and recommended use.
2. Read the medicinal ingredients
Canadian labels list medicinal ingredients separately from non-medicinal ingredients. The medicinal ingredients section tells you which mushroom is used, which part (fruiting body or mycelium) and how much is in each serving.
Not sure why the part matters? We explain it in Fruiting Body vs Mycelium.
3. Understand the extract ratio
An extract ratio such as 10:1 means roughly 10 kg of dried mushroom went into making 1 kg of extract. It is a concentrated form, so a small serving goes a long way.
When you compare products, compare the amount of extract per serving together with the ratio. A smaller amount of a 10:1 extract can represent more mushroom than a larger amount of plain ground mushroom.
4. Look for a measured compound
Some labels also list a measured amount of a compound group, such as polysaccharides or beta-glucans, as a percentage. For example, our Reishi Peach Mango Gummies list 750 mg of 10:1 Reishi extract per gummy with 40% polysaccharides.
A percentage like this gives you a second way to compare products, beyond the extract ratio.
5. Check the directions and cautions
The label also tells you the recommended dose, how often to take it and any cautions, for example who should talk to a healthcare practitioner first. Follow the directions on the label for the product you have, since different formats can have different serving sizes.
A quick checklist
| Look for | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| NPN | Licensed by Health Canada |
| Medicinal ingredients | Which mushroom, which part, how much per serving |
| Extract ratio (e.g. 10:1) | How concentrated the extract is |
| % polysaccharides or beta-glucans | A measured compound you can compare |
| Directions and cautions | How to take it and who should check first |
Comparing formats as well as labels? Our Buyer’s Guide puts drops, gummies, capsules and powders side by side.
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