Should regulators treat the supplement industry like the tobacco industry?

[HuckleB]

Last edited Fri Jan 15, 2016, 04:27 PM - Edit history (1)

https://sciencebasedpharmacy.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/should-regulators-treat-the-supplement-industry-like-the-tobacco-industry/

"The idea that “natural” products are safe and effective has been so effectively marketed to us that many don’t recognize it as a fallacy. Much of the supplement industry is built around an appeal to nature. Supplements are described as natural, gentle, and “holistic”. Medicine, especially prescription drugs, is the opposite. They’re “chemicals”. They’re risky and dangerous – just look at that list of side effects! Supplements are packaged beautifully, have impressive claims, and at health food stores and increasingly, taking space in pharmacies. Drugs are hazardous: They may come in a plain vial, with warning labels, detailed information sheets, and cautious statements about their effectiveness. Is it any wonder that many consumers, when faced with health concerns or medical issues, instinctively think of supplements as a safer alternative? Purveyors of supplements and alternative medicine have leveraged this fallacy so effectively that it’s even guided the regulations that allow their sale. Regrettably, the result is a marketplace that puts consumers’ interests last. The supplement industry has completely stacked the odds against the consumer, challenging their ability to make informed decisions about their health. Most supplements on the market have never been properly tested for safety or effectiveness. And those that have been tested have largely been shown to be ineffective – or in the case of products like vitamins, often unnecessary. And while there are undoubtedly some ethical companies out there, the industry is regularly revealed to resemble a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Despite this, the industry has gone from success to success – in terms of sales, at least. In 1994, supplement sales were about $4 billion in the US. It’s now a $37 billion industry that is remains only lightly regulated – or largely unregulated. With recent action taken against fraudulent products, there are more questions than ever about how to force the supplement industry to make consumer protection a priority. A new paper in Drug Testing and Analysis makes a provocative suggestion: Local and state governments already regulate another hazardous product: tobacco. Can lessons learned from the tobacco wars improve the safety of supplements?

Whether you’re a supplement user or not, one thing we can probably all agree on is that these products should be manufactured to high quality standards. Setting aside any efficacy questions, consumers should get what they pay for, and be able to trust that what’s on the label is actually in the bottle. Adulterated supplements, or supplements that contain undeclared ingredients (from potential allergens to houseplants) are fraudulent and prohibited – yet they continue to appear on the market. Why this occurs isn’t unexpected. Current regulation doesn’t require manufacturers to demonstrate quality before products are sold, nor does it to hold manufacturers to account when things go wrong. That’s the reality with supplements today. And we can trace the cause (in the United States, at least) to a pivotal piece of legislation.

...

Given the likelihood of robust federal consumer protection regulation is remote, the focus has shifted to the potential for state-level action to improve patient safety. It’s worth noting that this is already occurring. Earlier this year the New York State Attorney General issued letters to several retailers demanding that sales cease of mislabelled store-brand supplements. While this inspection was justifiably criticized in part because of its methodology, the state eventually reached an agreement with GNC to implement DNA barcoding nationwide – thereby pushing one manufacturer to adopt standards that are more rigorous than established by DSHEA. Another example was the state of Oregon which, this past April, reached an agreement with Vitamin Shoppe to stop selling supplements containing BMPEA (a stimulant) nationwide.

...

Just like the gradual public health push for tobacco legislation, recent actions at the federal and state level are encouraging – legislators are recognizing the fallacy of supplement safety, and are finally moving to put consumer protection ahead of industry interests. The industry’s inability to keep adulterated products off the market does itself no favours, and public support may dwindle if it’s recognized that the industry, to date, really hasn’t taken product quality seriously. What I and others have argued for is a consistent approach to quality and safety, where claims of effectiveness are backed by good evidence, and health professionals and consumers can use these products in science-based ways. The challenge we face is that the supplement industry will fight this tooth and nail. It took decades for tobacco. Comparing supplements to tobacco is definitely provocative. But given what we don’t know (and what we do) about supplement quality and safety, the comparison may be more apt than it appears.

..."


A fair read, IMO. It's time to put consumers first. The supplement industry is anti-progressive to the core. It is simply outlandish that so little has been done to regulate it.

[randys1]

1. All I know is drugs have to be legalized and treated like the disease addiction is

[KT2000]

2. the plan is to make supplements

by prescription only so big pharma can take control. This has been in the works for years. This has nothing to do with consumer safety but rather transfer of wealth. There have been physician trainings for years in anticipation of this.
If it was about testing products for their contents to make sure what is being sold is what is stated, that is one thing but this is about control of consumer access.

Compare and contrast the side effects of pharmaceuticals with supplements.

[HuckleB]

3. LOL! No.

The plan is to stop allowing these unregulated companies from fooling people out of their money, not to mention putting them in harm's way. It's long past time. No progressive can justify the supplement industry's ugliness.

[KT2000]

5. LOL! Yes

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[HuckleB]

6. Somehow you miss those dollar signs when it comes to supplement scumbags.

[kcr]

9. That is a BS scare tactic talking point invented by the supplement industry

There is no reason supplements should be exempt from regulation.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Certainly the ones that are both highly addictive and

cause chronic and/or fatal health issues should be.

I'm assuming that's what you meant.

[HuckleB]

7. Since some that wouldn't be problems in and of themselves, but...

... have ended up being problems because harmful things were in them that weren't supposed to be in them, regulation is clearly needed.

Check out the full piece, and its links.

[1939]

8. Human safety for supplement

FDA shoud monitor the supplements to assure that they are pure and without harmful chemcials.

Most supplements say "may be beneficial to your heart" or "may enhance processing of sugar" or "may be beneficial to your hair and nails".

[HuckleB]

10. Indeed. Of course, similar food claims are being called out now, too.

So, manufacturers may be needing to prove their claims a bit more.