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Herbal Supplements Without Herbs
An investigation of herbal supplements by the New York State attorney general’s office carries a sobering message for the rest of the nation as well.
The investigation looked at the store brands of well-known herbal products sold by four prominent national retailers: GNC, Target, Walgreens and Walmart. Among the popular products examined were ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort and ginseng pills. Four out of five of the products tested did not include any of the herbs listed on their labels. Even worse, hidden ingredients and contaminants could be dangerous to people with allergies to those substances.
That such well-known brands should be found to be fraudulent suggests that the problem infects the entire industry.
The attorney general sent the four retailers cease-and-desist letters on Monday and demanded that they explain their procedures for verifying the ingredients in their supplements. All four stopped selling the challenged products in New York and pledged to give the investigators the information requested. Walgreens and Target pulled the products from their stores nationwide. But Walmart and GNC are continuing to sell their products in stores outside New York.
GNC, a vitamin and supplements chain, claimed that the testing methodology — known as DNA barcoding technology — is of “doubtful validity” for assessing herbal products. That seems unlikely given that the tests were carried out by an expert on DNA barcoding, James Schulte II, an associate professor of biology at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., and Beckman Coulter Genomics, a Massachusetts company that is expert in DNA barcoding. The attorney general’s office has compiled a list of more than 70 scientific papers showing that DNA barcoding was able to identify ingredients.
The industry contends that the testing methods it uses are more accurate and meet the standards of the United States Pharmacopeial Convention, a nonprofit scientific organization that sets standards for ingredients used in dietary supplements, but this investigation may well prove that claim hollow.
Consumers need to be aware that herbal or other supplements that claim to improve health are not subject to the same strict standards for safety and efficacy that the Food and Drug Administration applies to prescription drugs. The supplement industry’s backers in Congress and state capitals have long protected it from stricter regulation. New York’s investigation ought to persuade legislators that stronger oversight is needed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/07/opinion/herbal-supplements-without-herbs.html?_r=0
The investigation looked at the store brands of well-known herbal products sold by four prominent national retailers: GNC, Target, Walgreens and Walmart. Among the popular products examined were ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort and ginseng pills. Four out of five of the products tested did not include any of the herbs listed on their labels. Even worse, hidden ingredients and contaminants could be dangerous to people with allergies to those substances.
That such well-known brands should be found to be fraudulent suggests that the problem infects the entire industry.
The attorney general sent the four retailers cease-and-desist letters on Monday and demanded that they explain their procedures for verifying the ingredients in their supplements. All four stopped selling the challenged products in New York and pledged to give the investigators the information requested. Walgreens and Target pulled the products from their stores nationwide. But Walmart and GNC are continuing to sell their products in stores outside New York.
GNC, a vitamin and supplements chain, claimed that the testing methodology — known as DNA barcoding technology — is of “doubtful validity” for assessing herbal products. That seems unlikely given that the tests were carried out by an expert on DNA barcoding, James Schulte II, an associate professor of biology at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., and Beckman Coulter Genomics, a Massachusetts company that is expert in DNA barcoding. The attorney general’s office has compiled a list of more than 70 scientific papers showing that DNA barcoding was able to identify ingredients.
The industry contends that the testing methods it uses are more accurate and meet the standards of the United States Pharmacopeial Convention, a nonprofit scientific organization that sets standards for ingredients used in dietary supplements, but this investigation may well prove that claim hollow.
Consumers need to be aware that herbal or other supplements that claim to improve health are not subject to the same strict standards for safety and efficacy that the Food and Drug Administration applies to prescription drugs. The supplement industry’s backers in Congress and state capitals have long protected it from stricter regulation. New York’s investigation ought to persuade legislators that stronger oversight is needed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/07/opinion/herbal-supplements-without-herbs.html?_r=0
It would be nice to be able to go to the source, but as you say, this isn't always possible, and these days, do we even know that bulk turmeric isn't GMO?
There are a few companies that sell supplements that I pretty much stick with, because I think they're more reputable than others, but of course, I have no absolute proof of that...
I know pharma wants to get into the supplement business so we have to get a script for all our vitamins/minerals, but can you imagine what a cluster that would be? My doctor doesn't know as much about supplements as I do and if I had to depend on him, I'd be deficient in everything... lol And let's not think about the cost; it's all expensive enough, now, I hate to think what it would be like, if it all had to go through Pharma.
There are a few companies that sell supplements that I pretty much stick with, because I think they're more reputable than others, but of course, I have no absolute proof of that...
I know pharma wants to get into the supplement business so we have to get a script for all our vitamins/minerals, but can you imagine what a cluster that would be? My doctor doesn't know as much about supplements as I do and if I had to depend on him, I'd be deficient in everything... lol And let's not think about the cost; it's all expensive enough, now, I hate to think what it would be like, if it all had to go through Pharma.
If possible it's probably best when we can go to the source, but this I mean instead of buying turmeric ( curcumin) capsules, buy bulk turmeric and cap your own. I know this isn't always possible.
It has gotten so frustrating knowing who and what to trust. I too am suspicious of the pharmas trying to force us to use their meds.
Here in California there is a lot of talk about what everyone believes will happen when marijuana is legalized. Monsanto has already developed GMO cannabis making people leery about what the future holds in store.
It has gotten so frustrating knowing who and what to trust. I too am suspicious of the pharmas trying to force us to use their meds.
Here in California there is a lot of talk about what everyone believes will happen when marijuana is legalized. Monsanto has already developed GMO cannabis making people leery about what the future holds in store.
Dee I read that, too, which makes me wonder about all of this, as well.
The vitamin/mineral supplement arena does already fall under FDA regulation, but you'd think the industry would be doing a better job of policing itself in order to prevent Pharma from accomplishing its goal for eliminating vitamins/minerals/herbals from the market.
Vitamins/mineral and herbals, also, fall under the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), but they are regulated with a different set of rules than drugs.
I think a big problem is that not all manufacturers operate under the existing rules. Like most things, the solution always ends up being "pass more, stricter laws" rather to enforce the ones already on the books.
The vitamin/mineral supplement arena does already fall under FDA regulation, but you'd think the industry would be doing a better job of policing itself in order to prevent Pharma from accomplishing its goal for eliminating vitamins/minerals/herbals from the market.
Vitamins/mineral and herbals, also, fall under the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), but they are regulated with a different set of rules than drugs.
I think a big problem is that not all manufacturers operate under the existing rules. Like most things, the solution always ends up being "pass more, stricter laws" rather to enforce the ones already on the books.
I am torn between wanting to believe this story and being skeptical. If I had not read about this a few years ago I might be more prone to believe.. I read something called Codex Alimentarius which basically wants to control our intake of vitamins and supplements. This is may be the first of that. I had heard it would be a slow process. Big Pharma doesn't want us to use vitamins to help our bodies, they want to make it medicine so it can be prescribed in all but the lowest ineffective doses.
The government has its hands in everything we ingest, but not herbal supplements? Interesting.... In every "acceptable" thing we ingest (deemed safe by the gubmint) there are acceptable amounts of rat feces, rat hair, bugs, pug pieces, etc.
Seems only normal to me that things that are unregulated would be contaminated, just like the things that are regulated. Sounds like Uncle Sam wants his piece of that pie too.
Seems only normal to me that things that are unregulated would be contaminated, just like the things that are regulated. Sounds like Uncle Sam wants his piece of that pie too.
Blame it on Orrin Hatch
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/06/22/orrin-hatch-the-supplement-industrys-lap/
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/06/22/orrin-hatch-the-supplement-industrys-lap/
I walked by the supplements aisle in my local Walgreen's store the other day to pick up a prescription and some of the shelves were pretty bare... This does bring to light the fact that vitamins/minerals and herbal supplements aren't regulated and we need to be careful what we're taking, but then I also wonder if it's not, in part, a ploy to bring some of these things under Big Pharma so they can increase their profit margin...
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