The FDA and the FTC share the responsibility for overseeing dietary supplements and related promotion, with the FDA generally responsible for safety, quality and labeling, and the FTC generally responsible for advertising. We often hear about dietary supplements and their supposed health benefits. In this article, we'll explore what we know about these dietary aids. We often hear about supplements and their supposed health benefits, but let's take some time to explore dietary supplements on a deeper level.
Dietary supplements are any pill, capsule, powder, tablet, or liquid that contains more than one vitamin, minerals, herbs, or other botanical ingredients, amino acids, probiotics, or other dietary ingredients intended to aid human health. Some examples include multivitamins, weight-loss pills, protein powders, and more. The FDA is responsible for both finished dietary supplements and dietary ingredients; however, its ability to regulate supplements before they are available for sale is limited. This means that supplement manufacturers are responsible for the purity of supplement ingredients, and the FDA cannot recall a harmful product until someone reports it to the FDA.
The FDA is working to update the process to make it easier for consumers to receive information about recalls and to develop better procedures for reporting poor quality products. The FTC ensures that the health claims of health supplements in the manufacturer's advertising and marketing are truthful, not misleading, and well-founded. While the FTC warns that many supplements can be harmful to human health, they rarely, if ever, file the health claim that is being marketed. They help ensure that contaminated or misleading supplements don't reach the market.
Once again, they cannot verify the safety or validity of health claims. If the claim of a dietary supplement seems like a miracle cure for an ailment you're experiencing, be careful and research the product before consuming it. The claims that some unscrupulous supplement manufacturers make about their products are largely unscientific, untested and, in some cases, can be dangerous. If you decide to take a dietary supplement, be sure to purchase a supplement that has been tested for purity in an accredited third-party laboratory or that has been produced by an accredited company with scientific laboratories that use current good dietary supplement manufacturing practices (cGMP) established by the FDA.
While cGMP testing and compliance let you know that you will consume the ingredients labeled on the supplement package, they DO NOT evaluate any of the health claims made by the product manufacturer. So, while you may be taking the labeled supplement, it hasn't been tested to see if that supplement will improve your health or remedy your ailment. Third-party laboratories will have a logo on the product label that will inform you that the product has been tested. The most popular third-party labs include NSF International, US Pharmacopeia, Consumer Lab, and more.
Accredited companies with large distribution networks will make information about their supplements available to the public on their websites and will ensure that their labels contain the necessary information. Read the labels and pay attention to the manufacturer before buying a supplement so that you can make an informed decision. You should discuss taking dietary supplements with your primary medical provider. They will be able to provide you with the right guidance and guide you to the products you may need.
People who often need dietary supplements include pregnant women, people with vitamin deficiencies, such as vitamin D, and others with medically identified needs. Once again, the best course of action is to discuss your needs with an accredited, state-licensed doctor. MSU is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture that encourages all people to achieve their full potential. We comply with the Federal Trade Commission's Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998. The dietary supplement industry is federally regulated in the U.S.
UU. By the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as well as by government agencies in each of the 50 states. Nearly every facet of manufacturing, labeling, and marketing dietary supplements is covered by extensive regulations issued and enforced by the FDA and the FTC. The FTC regulates the advertising of dietary supplements as it does with all consumer products, by enforcing laws that tell the truth in advertising and applies the same rules to all forms of advertising, whether in newspapers, magazines, the Internet, by mail, or on billboards and buses.
Federal law states that advertisements must be truthful, not misleading and backed by scientific evidence, especially when health claims are used. In addition to complying with a number of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and foods in the areas of manufacturing, quality control, labeling, safety and marketing, CRN member companies also adopt self-regulatory practices and adhere to a strict code of ethics and dosing recommendations, as well as voluntary guidelines and best practices. See our factsheet on dietary supplement and food regulations, compared. Council for Responsible Nutrition, 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 810, Washington, DC, 20036 - 5114 (20) 204-7700 Fax (20) 204-7701 Privacy Policy, Terms of Use and Legal Notice.
Congress established the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994 to create a regulatory framework that addresses the safety and labeling of dietary supplements. The most recent regulations require manufacturers to observe the good manufacturing practices (GMP) established for this industry, including ingredient testing. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates the advertising of supplements and most other products sold to consumers. Council for Responsible Nutrition, 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 810, Washington, DC, 20036 - 5114 (20) 204-7700, fax (20) 204-7701.
