Final answer:
The FDA and FTC are responsible for monitoring claims on dietary supplement labels, with the FDA focusing on labeling and composition, and the FTC on advertising claims. Manufacturers can make certain claims without FDA approval but must include disclaimers that their products don't diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The entities responsible for validating claims on dietary supplement labels are mainly the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, to a lesser extent, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FDA regulates supplements by ensuring they meet Good Manufacturing Standards and monitors labeling claims about composition and health benefits. Moreover, manufacturers can make structural and functional claims, such as stating an ingredient may reduce the risk of a disease or affect certain body systems. However, these claims do not receive approval from the FDA, leading to a mandatory disclaimer on labels that the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."
The FTC plays a role in checking factual claims about the product's performance in advertising. Claims found to be untrue are not permitted, highlighting the principle of caveat emptor or "let the buyer beware". There is significant scrutiny on dietary supplements as studies have shown mislabeling and contamination issues, and the FDA only removes supplements from the market if they are proven to be hazardous.