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Tainted Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements

On Dec. 15, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took new steps aimed at keeping consumers safe from harmful products that are marketed as dietary supplements and that contain undeclared or deceptively labeled ingredients.

FDA has found that these products are often promoted for weight loss, sexual enhancement, and bodybuilding.

The new steps FDA has taken include:

A History of Action

Among the substances found in products that are marketed as dietary supplements and that contain hidden or deceptively labeled ingredients are

Where FDA investigations have discovered tainted products marketed as dietary supplements, the agency has issued warning letters and conducted seizures and criminal prosecutions. 

FDA has also alerted consumers to hundreds of products with these often deceptively labeled and harmful ingredients, including more than 80 products marketed for sexual enhancement, more than 70 products marketed for weight loss, and more than 80 products marketed for bodybuilding.

Advice for Consumers

Michael Levy, director of FDA's Division of New Drugs and Labeling Compliance, says labeling of these tainted products may claim that they are "alternatives" to FDA-approved drugs, or "legal" alternatives to anabolic steroids.

“Consumers should avoid products marketed as supplements that claim to have effects similar to prescription drugs," Levy says. "Consumers should also be wary of products with labeling only in a foreign language or that are marketed through mass e-mails.”

In all, consumers should heed these potential warning signs of tainted products marketed as dietary supplements.

Generally, if you are using or considering using any product marketed as a dietary supplement, FDA suggests that you

Posted December 15, 2010

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