Dietary Supplements with Illegal Ingredients

 Posted on August 26, 2013 in Dietary Supplements

Two US Senators recently introduced the Dietary Supplement Labeling Act of 2013. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) say the law is needed to help oversee the ever growing list of dangerous dietary supplements and herbal medications that can cause adverse reactions in people who take these products, but are on the market totally unregulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Journal of the American Medical Association reported in its April issue that many supplement manufacturers have purposely added illegal weight-loss chemicals, sexual-enhancement and bodybuilding compounds or other additives, such as excessive caffeine, in their products. These companies are not required to disclose and don't disclose these ingredients on product labels, leaving many consumers unaware of what they are actually ingesting.

“Consumers don't know some dietary supplements are unsafe until they're in the hospital, and by that time it's too late,” says Sen. Blumenthal. He says the bill would require these companies to provide more information about contents on product labels and would also give more authority to FDA by requiring manufacturers to register their products and the ingredients. Manufacturers would also have to provide proof of health-benefit claims.

The legislation comes after a recent incident involving vitamins tainted with two anabolic steroids. The products were made by Purity First Health Products, Inc. in East Northport, NY. Twenty-nine people became ill after ingesting these vitamins, with at least ten suffering adverse side-effects. The owner of Purity First Health claims the vitamins were never tainted. The government is urging the company to recall all its vitamins and mineral products.

Research reveals that there are more recalls of dietary supplements than of prescription drug medication. Fifty-one percent of the FDA's Class 1 recalls involved dietary supplements. A Class 1 recall involves dangerous products that can cause serious health problems or death.

If you've been sickened or injured by a defective or tainted product, you may be entitled to compensation for pain and loss you suffered. Contact an experienced Illinois defective drug attorney to find out what your rights are.