The Dietary Supplement Mystery

The older generation knows this already, but the younger generation might not. 

In the United States, none of the herbal and dietary supplements that are for sale for humans or pets are FDA Approved. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also doesn't perform any product testing or evaluations before products are offered for sale.  


That doesn't mean these products were never tested. It just means a government or federal health agency never tested them.  

There is no FDA oversight about health claims
 BEFORE a supplement is offered for sale

The dietary supplement industry is a conundrum in the United States and to some people, it really defies logic.  Consider this:

- The FDA regulates drugs, but not dietary supplements.  

- Since dietary supplements primarily do not cure, treat or prevent disease, they are considered food, not drugs. 

- As food, the manufacturers are still required to follow the same standards that all food manufacturers and distributors must follow regarding manufacturing, labeling and sanitary conditions.

 - Manufacturers do not have to submit the results of any of their testing or research to the FDA before their product hits the store shelves.  But they must have it on hand if it is requested.

- No matter what amazing medical miracles that a manufacturer's research turned up when they self-tested their product, they are still not permitted to make those medical claims about their products because then their products would be considered drugs. 

- When a dietary supplement makes medical claims, it is only then that the FDA takes notice, followed by their own testing and research. If the claims are proven to be true, the supplement is now a drug and must conform to much more strict drug regulations.

It is a fact that the FDA has given this industry free rein to market their products with very little oversight before their products hit the shelves. 

Supplement manufacturers are on the honor system that they won't make bogus or unsupported medical claims about their product to say it can cure, prevent, or treat a certain ailment or disease.  

 

Manufacturers will try to market cures until they get caught

But it is worth the time, money and risk investment for supplement manufacturers to take a chance by listing medical claims in their advertising and on labels, to risk getting caught by the short hairs for doing it because, by the time they get caught, they will have most likely made some money on their product.  If their product just happens to be true to its medical claims, this will only go to support their cause when the FDA calls them to task for violations.

But, that won't happen by chance.  

The FDA does perform some spot checks on the internet and the advertisements in popular print publications looking for bogus or unsubstantiated claims, but they really don't have the staff to keep up. They rely on consumers to submit a complaint or report.  

What consumer is going to report a product if it worked for them?  None.  

The majority of products that get reported are the ones that don't live up to the expected advertised claims OR if a product poses a safety or public health threat.

There is one other way that a product gets the FDA's attention and that is when it poses a threat to the pharmaceutical industry where it may cut into their expected profits.  

It is a well-known fact that cancer drugs are the pharmaceutical industry's golden calf, their primary money maker.  Any dietary or herbal supplement that says it can do any part of what a cancer drug does for the patient is going to get attention. From everybody.

We don't like the system that is in place and if you have read up to this point, we don't think you will like it either.


The FDA can bring action by sending a warning, advisory or cease and desist letters to manufacturers but not until after that line has been crossed.   By then, a fair percentage of the public probably already purchased the product. Even then, the FDA doesn't do its own testing. It relies on what the manufacturer has submitted to them from their own testing and research.

They could put 'anything' in that file - and I'll bet some do - but the FDA will take them at their word after reading the paperwork.

Essentially the public is a guinea pig.

We need more watchdogs in this industry because there are so many products for sale that make amazing claims and are still on the store shelves.  

Just one look at the health infographics on Pinterest will show you that the wording is out of hand.  Nearly every infographic or health picture uses wording that makes a claim that the product will "prevent, treat or help to cure."

We are concerned that consumers believe what they have read about products.  We shouldn't live in a world where the consumer is the guinea pig, where the consumer has to get hurt first before the FDA or other health agencies step in to rectify or protect them.

We shouldn't allow manufacturers to police themselves because then we are allowing the fox to watch the henhouse.

They are in business to make a profit. If they are allowed to market first and deal with consequences later, then it won't be long before other businesses follow the same model.  Then we can kiss goodbye to life as we know it because the consumer is not respected enough to be given consideration before the fact, only after.

We will be opening our two dedicated medical blogs where we cover dietary supplements on one and the other blog covers all manners of diseases and treatments.  By far, we expect the dietary supplement website to be busier because of the public's interest.  We expect to be open by Labor Day 2019.  We hope you will check us out and stop by every day to see what is new.

Thank you for reading.  Your comments are welcome.