Labeling That Athletes Can Trust

The Problem No One Sees Until It’s Too Late

Walk through any running shop or scroll an online marketplace and you’ll find dozens of sports nutrition products promising speed, focus, and stamina. What you can’t see at a glance is whether those products are labeled correctly. In the U.S., dietary supplements and performance nutrition must follow specific FDA labeling rules. Many brands—especially those importing finished goods or rushing new products to market—don’t fully comply. The result? Confusing or incomplete information, risky omissions, and a real possibility that athletes aren’t getting what they think they’re getting.

Why Label Accuracy Isn’t “Nice to Have”—It’s Safety-Critical

Accurate labels are more than paperwork. They are your first line of defense for:

Safety: Clear allergen statements, accurate ingredient lists, and correct serving sizes help prevent adverse events.
Dosing control: Endurance fueling is precise. If carbs, sodium, or caffeine aren’t labeled correctly, pacing and GI comfort can fall apart.
Transparency & trust: Athletes deserve to know exactly what’s in the pouch, bottle, or bar—every time.
Regulatory protection: Retailers, teams, and event partners increasingly require compliant labels to reduce liability and protect athletes.

The Risks to U.S. Consumers

When consumers buy a product that isn’t labeled correctly, they’re put in a dangerous position. An endurance athlete with a food allergy might unknowingly ingest a hidden allergen if the label omits proper allergen declarations. A marathoner may overdose on caffeine if the per-serving amount isn’t disclosed. A triathlete may underfuel if carbohydrates are under-reported. Each of these scenarios can lead to serious health consequences—from GI distress and bonking to ER visits or worse. The lack of label accuracy directly undermines an athlete’s ability to fuel safely and effectively.

The Liability Risk for Race Directors

It’s not just athletes who bear the risk. Event organizers and race directors who provide products to participants assume a duty of care. If a non-compliant product is distributed at an aid station and a participant gets sick—or worse—lawsuits can follow. The bigger problem? Insurance policies may not cover claims if the product in question wasn’t FDA-compliant. That leaves the race organization exposed to potentially devastating financial and reputational damage. For directors, ensuring every product handed out is properly labeled and compliant is as much about risk management as athlete safety.

The Scope of the Problem: A 70% Non-Compliance Rate

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: roughly 70% of sports nutrition brands being brought into the U.S. from Europe are not FDA-compliant. That includes some of the “top” brands often seen at expos, in retail stores, and even at races. Labels designed for the EU market often fail to meet U.S. standards in areas like serving size declarations, allergen disclosures, and panel formatting. What passes regulatory review in one jurisdiction does not automatically pass in another. U.S. athletes often assume that if a product is for sale, it must meet FDA rules—but that simply isn’t the case.

The Most Common U.S. Labeling Gaps We See

Here are patterns that crop up repeatedly on products sold in the U.S.—especially items imported from Europe without relabeling:

Wrong panel format
Using “Nutrition Facts” where “Supplement Facts” is required—or vice versa.
Missing statement of identity
Products must clearly state what they are (“Carbohydrate Energy Gel,” “Sports Drink Mix”).
Incorrect or ambiguous serving size
EU-style "per 100g" labeling does not meet U.S. rules.
Inaccurate nutrient declarations
Carbohydrates, sugars, sodium, and caffeine must match verified amounts.
Incomplete ingredient lists
Ingredients must be listed by weight in descending order, with sub-ingredients where relevant.
Allergen labeling errors
U.S. law requires specific allergen declarations that are often missing on EU labels.
Missing U.S. distributor information
Products must include a domestic address or phone number for adverse event reporting.
Net quantity issues
U.S. customary units (oz, fl oz) must be included along with metric.
Illicit claims
Disease treatment claims are prohibited under U.S. law.
Caffeine declaration confusion
Ambiguous or unstated caffeine content undermines safe use.

What FDA-Compliant Looks Like in Practice

A compliant label is consistent, specific, and verifiable:

Front of Pack (FOP): Clear statement of identity and net quantity.
Supplement/Nutrition Facts: Correct format and layout; serving size plainly stated; nutrients reported per serving.
Ingredient List: Full, with allergens identified.
Manufacturer/Distributor: Name and U.S. contact included.
Claims & Disclaimers: Compliant, realistic, and properly disclaimed.
Traceability: Lot codes and best-by dates for accountability.

Why This Matters Specifically to Endurance Athletes

Precision fueling is a numbers game. An ultrarunner planning 90g of carbohydrate per hour, a triathlete managing caffeine timing, or a gravel racer dialing sodium intake—each relies on label accuracy. Small errors can cause big problems:

Under-reported carbs → energy shortfalls and pacing failures.
Over-reported sodium → GI distress or taste fatigue.
Unstated caffeine → accidental stacking, jitters, or sleep disruption.

Neversecond: Built for Compliance, Designed for Clarity

Neversecond products are labeled to U.S. FDA standards with the same attention to detail we bring to formulation. Here’s what that means for you:

True-to-label carbohydrates: Built in 30g increments for planning by the numbers.
Transparent sodium strategy: Declared per serving in predictable 200mg increments.
Caffeine disclosure: Clearly stated per serving.
Clean ingredient lists: Simple, accurate, with allergens disclosed.
Correct panel formats: Supplement vs. Nutrition Facts done right.
Traceability: U.S. contact info and batch coding for accountability.

How to Spot a Non-Compliant or Low-Quality Label in 30 Seconds

When you’re shopping, run this quick check:

Is the serving size clear?
Are carbs, sodium, and caffeine declared per serving?
Is there a full ingredient list with allergens identified?
Is the Nutrition Panel formatted correctly?
Is there US contact information?
Are claims realistic and compliant?

Compliance Is Ongoing

Label rules evolve. Nutrition science advances. Packaging changes. That’s why we treat labeling as a living part of product quality—reviewed, updated, and audited. We also pair accurate labels with consistent manufacturing and third-party certifications, so what’s in the package always matches what’s on the panel.

The Bottom Line

Accurate, FDA-compliant labels aren’t bureaucracy—they’re performance infrastructure and legal protection. They protect athletes, enable precise fueling, and build trust. They protect event organizers from liability and insurance gaps. And they set apart the brands that truly prioritize athlete safety. The reality is that about 70% of imported brands, even the “big names,” fall short on compliance. Neversecond is committed to doing it right: labels that are clear, compliant, and consistent—so you can fuel by the numbers, race directors can rest easy, and everyone can focus on the finish line.

If you have any questions about this article, or any other questions - simply reach out to us at hello@never2.com. We're here to help!