What black elderberry is
Black elderberry is the dark purple fruit of Sambucus nigra, a shrub that grows across Europe. Raw berries, leaves, bark and stems can cause nausea and vomiting, which is why supplements use a processed fruit concentrate. On our labels the concentrate is written as 10:1, which means 10 parts of dried fruit were used to make 1 part of concentrate. One 500 mg capsule therefore corresponds to 5 g of dried elderberry fruit.
What the EU allows us to say
No health claim for elderberry has been authorised in the EU, and we do not attach any to it. The only authorised claims on this page belong to the added nutrients, under Regulation (EU) No 432/2012:
- Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
- Zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
A claim may be used only when the product contains at least 15% of the nutrient reference value (NRV) per daily portion. The NOW Foods lozenge has 100 mg of vitamin C (125% NRV) and 3 mg of zinc (30% NRV), so both claims apply to it. The elderberry capsule has no added nutrients and carries no claim.
Elderberry products in this category
| Product | Form | Elderberry concentrate per portion | Added nutrients | Label dose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOW Foods Elderberry, 500 mg | capsule | 500 mg (10:1, equal to 5 g dried fruit) | none | 1 to 3 capsules a day |
| NOW Foods Elderberry with Zinc and Vitamin C | lozenge | 150 mg (10:1) | 3 mg zinc (30% NRV), 100 mg vitamin C (125% NRV) | 1 lozenge a day |
Capsule or lozenge
The capsule is the simpler choice if you only want the fruit concentrate and want to control the number of portions yourself. The lozenge is dissolved in the mouth and brings the two nutrients with it. Compare the price per day rather than the pack price, because the capsule label allows one to three capsules and the lozenge is one a day.
Safety notes
Both products are for adults. The capsule label asks pregnant and breastfeeding women, people who take medicines and people with a medical condition to talk to a doctor first. The lozenge label says not to combine it with other zinc products and not to use it for a long time. If you already take zinc, check the total on the zinc page before adding this one.
Where to find nutrients with an immune claim
Vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D are the nutrients with an authorised immune system claim in our range. They are gathered on the immune support page, and vitamin D has its own page.
Frequently asked questions
Does elderberry have an authorised health claim?
No. Claims for plant extracts such as elderberry have not been authorised in the EU, so no elderberry product may promise anything about health.
Can I use fresh or homemade elderberry instead?
Raw berries, leaves and stems are not safe to eat. A processed concentrate in a capsule or lozenge avoids that problem.
Is there an elderberry product for children?
The products in this category are for adults. The NOW Foods children's elderberry liquid with zinc is listed on the zinc page.
What does 10:1 mean?
It is the extraction ratio: 10 g of dried fruit for each 1 g of concentrate. A higher ratio means more fruit behind the same number of milligrams, so only compare milligrams between products with the same ratio.
Can I take the capsule and the lozenge together?
The lozenge already contains zinc and vitamin C, so adding the capsule only increases the elderberry. Keep to the daily dose on each label.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (authorised health claims)
- EU Register of nutrition and health claims
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Zinc
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin C
- NCCIH: Elderberry
- EFSA: Health claims
Content reviewed by Inese Kalniņa, dietitian.
2026-08-25