Industry Responds to Globe Editorial

In an editorial last week, the Boston Globe claimed FDA is “virtually powerless in regulating the $25 billion dietary supplements industry, even though many of its products contain illegal synthetic steroids.”  They state FDA can only take action against manufacturers of supplements with harmful ingredients after bad reactions are reported by users. In conclusion they say, “Congress should end its 15-year experiment with lax regulation of the industry.”

However, within a few days of posting this editorial, the natural products industry replied via the comments section. A commenter labeled “CouncilforResponsibleNutrition,” who said he or she works for the dietary supplement industry, said the editorial made incorrect statements about the authority of FDA. “By law, what is on the label must be in the bottle, and what is in the bottle, must be on the label,” it read. “Companies that are manufacturing products with illegal steroids and then selling them as dietary supplements are breaking the law—and FDA has the full authority under the law to take enforcement against those companies.”  He or she added, “We hope the editorial staff at the Globe will take the time to understand exactly what regulations exist before suggesting the need for new ones.”

And Jon Benninger, director of business development at Virgo Publishing, which publishes several magazines for the industry, including Natural Products Marketplace, wrote, “The dietary supplement industry is regulated and always has been. It is illegal to put steroids into a product and sell that product as a supplement (or as anything else for that matter). It is illegal to sell a product that contains ingredients not listed on the label, no matter what those ingredients are.” He continued to say no new law is necessary, but the current laws should be enforced.

In the SupplySide LinkedIn group, more industry members commented on the article. Marc Ullman, chairman, legal advisory council, Natural Products Foundation (NPA) said industry needs to support trade associations in Washington. Marco Aurilio, technical director, Chosen Foods Corp., agreed with Ullman and added big pharmaceutical companies work to undermine the growing supplement industry, and those in the industry need to be proactive in informing senators, representatives, legislators and consumers.