The DSHEA and supplements

[cave76]

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0904768

Before 1994, herbal products were considered food additives, and their manufacturers were required to show proof of safety before marketing them. Since the passage of the DSHEA, dietary supplements are presumed to be safe and can be marketed with very little oversight.


The DSHEA presents serious obstacles to the FDA’s ability to detect and eliminate contaminated supplements. A wide range of dietary supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic plant material, heavy metals, or bacteria. Of particular concern are the dozens of dietary supplements that are contaminated with prescription medications, controlled substances, experimental compounds, or drugs rejected by the FDA because of safety concerns.
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Always research your supplements with fervor!

[gymdandee]

I've belonged for a few years now! They list products that pass the tests and they list the ones that fail and tell you why they fail. they also take surveys asking what products members use and then they might check them. I recommend joining!

[cave76]

I've read that site before but haven't joined. Do you feel it's worth the subscription price (it really isn't very expensive) to read their reports?

Do you feel they have completely unbiased reports? I'm a born skeptic and see no reason to change. :)

[gymdandee]

I recommend subscribing to consumer lab the following is the web address. http://www.consumerlab.com/