Supplement Labeling: The FDA Steps In

The Food and Drug Administration has finally come out with proposed manufacturing standards for dietary supplements. The move has pleased consumer advocates and industry groups alike, since it should reduce the number of low-quality products on the market. About 15 percent of supplements either don’t contain the stated amount of the active ingredient or have some kind of contaminant, according to independent testing company ConsumerLab.com. Under the new proposal, companies will have to ensure that what’s written on the label is what’s contained in the product. Some experts aren’t so thrilled with the ruling, however, saying it doesn’t do enough to assure product effectiveness or safety. “The government could do much more to establish guidelines for appropriate use and potential risks,” says Mark Blumenthal of the American Botanical Council, in Austin, Texas. The FDA, he notes, can set dosage and safety standards without requiring that every product be tested the way prescription drugs are. “There needs to be an expert panel, akin to Commission E in Germany, to evaluate the literature and come up with recommendations.” Congress is also considering other regulations, which include making it mandatory for manufacturers to report any major adverse reactions to the FDA; requiring premarket approval for stimulant supplements like ephedra; and making the sale of steroid-like substances, such as natural progesterone and DHEA, illegal without a prescription. For updates, check the FDA website at www.fda.gov.