Quick Summary
Not all travel health products are created equal. Before buying, check whether the product is appropriately regulated (where applicable), clearly lists its ingredients, explains why they're included and provides balanced, evidence-based information. Spending just a few minutes researching a product can help you make a more informed decision about what you're putting into your body.
Quick Answer
How can I tell if a travel health product is trustworthy?
Look beyond the marketing. A quality travel health product should be transparent about its ingredients, explain why they're included, provide balanced, evidence-based information and, where applicable, comply with Australian regulatory requirements. The more information you can independently verify, the greater your confidence in the product.
Why This Matters
Whether you're shopping in a pharmacy, health food store or online, you'll find countless products claiming to support gut health, immunity, hydration or digestive wellbeing.
Many have professional websites, influencer endorsements, bold marketing claims and glowing five-star reviews. While reviews can be helpful, they're most valuable when independently verified, as fake or misleading reviews do exist.
So how do you know what's genuinely worth buying?
That's exactly what this guide will help you understand.
What Is the TGA?
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is Australia's government regulator responsible for overseeing therapeutic goods, including medicines and many complementary medicines. Its role is to help ensure products supplied in Australia meet appropriate standards for quality, safety and, where applicable, efficacy.
When a product is regulated as a therapeutic good in Australia, TGA oversight provides consumers with greater confidence in its quality and regulatory compliance.
Because when you're putting something into your body, quality matters.
What Is the ARTG?
The Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) is the official database of therapeutic goods lawfully supplied in Australia. It's free to search and allows consumers to verify whether a therapeutic product is listed or registered with the TGA while viewing a public product summary, including active ingredients, approved indications and other key information.
Independent verification helps consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.
Quick Tip
Before buying a travel health product, search the ARTG using either the product name or its AUST L or AUST R number.
In less than a minute you can view publicly available information such as:
- Active ingredients
- Approved indications
- ARTG number
- Product sponsor
- Dosage form
- Other publicly available product details
Search the ARTG here: https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/artg
Why Should Travellers Care?
Travelling often places extra demands on your health, making product quality even more important. Choosing appropriately regulated products can help you make informed decisions rather than relying solely on marketing claims.
If a therapeutic product that should be regulated isn't listed or registered with the TGA, consumers have far less independent assurance about its manufacturing standards, ingredient transparency and regulatory oversight.
Look for an AUST L or AUST R number on the label. For example, The Belly Solution is listed on the ARTG as AUST L 522493.
Why not see for yourself? Search "The Belly Solution" or "522493" in the ARTG to view the publicly available product information.
If you can't independently verify a product where appropriate, you have far less assurance that it contains what the label states, has been manufactured to Australian regulatory standards or has undergone the regulatory oversight expected of therapeutic goods.
Spending just a few minutes doing your homework before you buy can make all the difference. Not All Travel Health Products Are the Same.
Products that appear similar on the shelf can differ significantly. Ingredients, dosages, manufacturing standards, scientific evidence and regulatory oversight may all vary from one product to another.
When comparing products, ask yourself:
- Are all of the active ingredients clearly listed?
- Does the product tell you exactly how much of each active ingredient it contains?
- Does it also clearly identify any inactive ingredients or excipients, such as fillers, binders, coatings, flavours, colours or anti-caking agents?
- Does it explain why the active ingredients have been selected?
- Are the health claims balanced and evidence-based?
- Can you independently verify the information?
- If the product should be regulated in Australia, can you find its ARTG listing?
Transparency builds trust.
The more transparent a company is about what's in its product—and why it's there—the easier it is for you to make an informed decision about what you're putting into your body.
Travel Health Fact
More ingredients don't always mean a better product.
A long ingredient list can look impressive, but quality matters more than quantity.
Choosing ingredients with appropriate scientific evidence—and including them at meaningful amounts—is generally more important than simply adding as many ingredients as possible.
Not All Probiotics Are Created Equal
"Probiotic" is a broad category—not a single ingredient. Different probiotic strains have different characteristics, levels of scientific evidence and intended uses.
When comparing products, look beyond the headline CFU count and ask:
- Which probiotic strain is included?
- Is the amount clearly stated?
- Is it shelf stable or does it require refrigeration?
- Is there evidence supporting that particular strain?
Choosing a probiotic isn't about the biggest number on the label—it's about understanding what's behind it.
The Belly Solution Trust Checklist™
Before purchasing any travel health product, ask yourself:
✅ Is it appropriately regulated in Australia (where applicable)?
✅ Can I verify its TGA or ARTG listing if it claims to be a therapeutic good?
✅ Are all active ingredients and their amounts clearly listed?
✅ Are inactive ingredients (such as fillers or excipients) also disclosed?
✅ Does it explain why the ingredients have been included?
✅ Are the health claims balanced and evidence-based?
✅ Is the manufacturer or sponsor clearly identified?
If you answer "no" to several of these questions, it's worth taking a closer look before purchasing.
What About Online Reviews?
Reviews can be helpful—but they shouldn't be your only source of information. Wherever possible, look for independently verified reviews, remembering that online reviews can sometimes be fake, incentivised or selectively presented.
Don't rely on reviews alone. Also:
- Read the ingredient list.
- Understand what the product is designed to do.
- Verify information independently where possible.
- Look for balanced, evidence-based information rather than exaggerated claims.
Questions Every Traveller Should Ask Before Buying a Travel Health Product
Before clicking "Buy Now", ask yourself:
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Do I understand what's in this product?
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Is it appropriate for my needs?
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Can I verify the information independently?
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Is the company transparent about its ingredients and claims?
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Would I feel confident recommending it to my own family?
Those five questions can help you make a far more informed purchasing decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does TGA stand for?
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is Australia's regulator responsible for overseeing medicines and many complementary medicines.
What is the ARTG?
The Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods is the official register of therapeutic goods lawfully supplied in Australia.
Can I search the ARTG myself?
Yes. The ARTG is free to search and allows consumers to verify whether a therapeutic product is listed or registered while viewing a public product summary.
Are all supplements TGA listed?
No. Whether a product must be included in the ARTG depends on how it is regulated and the claims it makes.
Is a higher CFU count always better?
Not necessarily. The probiotic strain, dosage, product quality and supporting scientific evidence are all important.
Why should I read the ingredient list?
Knowing exactly what's in a product—including both active and inactive ingredients—helps you make a more informed purchasing decision.
Evidence Snapshot
Last reviewed: July 2026
Prepared using:
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Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) guidance
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Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)
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Australian consumer health information
-
Peer-reviewed scientific literature where applicable
This article is intended for educational purposes and will be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in regulatory guidance and scientific evidence.
The Bottom Line
Choosing a travel health product shouldn't come down to clever marketing, colourful packaging or the loudest online claims.
It should come down to transparency, quality, evidence, appropriate regulation and your confidence in knowing exactly what you're putting into your body.
The more informed you are before you buy, the better equipped you'll be to make confident travel health decisions.
Continue Your Travel Health Journey
If you found this guide helpful, you may also enjoy:
- What Is Travellers' Diarrhoea? Causes, Symptoms & Why Every Traveller Should Care
- How to Best Prevent Travellers' Diarrhoea: 12 Evidence-Based Ways to Stay Healthy Overseas
- What To Do If You Get Travellers' Diarrhoea: Recovery, Hydration & When to Seek Medical Advice
- Bali Belly Explained: Myths, Facts & Why It's Not Just a Bali Problem
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