Reader Gary Teo wrote in to askST to express concern over dietary supplements available for sale in Singapore, for which distributors are claiming health benefits.

He asked: "How are products such as Jeunesse Reserve, which are expensive and claim to have certain health benefits, regulated?"

Health reporter Felicia Choo got the answers from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

Jeunesse Reserve is a blend of fruit juices with added antioxidants and hence is considered a food product, not a health product, said the AVA.

The AVA regulates the safety of food products, while the Health Sciences Authority regulates health products such as Western medicine, medical devices and complementary health products.

"In general, food products are regulated by the AVA if they are taken as part of a daily diet, or supplementation to a diet, with no defined dosage," said the AVA.

"(Jeunesse Reserve) is regulated as a food product under the AVA and complies with our food safety standards and requirements."

For example, only permitted ingredients or additives under the Singapore Food Regulations are used in the product.

The AVA added that Jeunesse Reserve also complies with general labelling requirements under the Singapore Food Regulations.

The requirements stipulate that all pre-packed food products - those packed in a wrapper or container before being put up for sale - have to be labelled with basic information such as the name of the food, ingredients, net content and source.