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Equine Supplements: Active vs. Inactive Ingredients
Q. I was recently looking at equine supplements and noticed that ingredients on the label are grouped into two categories: active and inactive, with amounts given for the active ingredients. I was surprised to see sodium chloride (salt) listed as an inactive ingredient, because I thought it was a common source of sodium for horses to help with hydration. Why would it be listed as an inactive ingredient?
A. This is a great question. Labeling requirements for supplements differ from those of feeds depending on their intended use. If the supplement’s aim is to affect the structure/function of the body in a manner other than food, then in the eyes of the regulatory bodies the product is a drug.
What Defines a Drug or Active Ingredient?
According to the U.S
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Written by:
Clair Thunes, PhD
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