What is in your vitamins/supplements? Are the items listed on the label really present in the vitamin or supplement that you take, the answer is yes and no. Confusing maybe, but just assuming that everything stated on the label ingredients is in there is something you should not do. The Attorney General of New York State accused four major retailers on February 2nd of selling fraudulent and potentially dangerous herbal supplements and demanded that they remove the products from their shelves.

They are the store brands from the following retailers Walmart, GNC, Target and Walgreens. What the Attorney General’s office found was that the supplements labeled as medicinal herbs often contained cheap fillers like powdered rice, asparagus and houseplants. Some of these substances could be dangerous to those who have allergies.

Many health experts have complained for a long time about the quality and safety of dietary supplements. These supplements are exempt from the strict regulatory oversight usually given by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to prescription drugs. The public has no way of knowing what is listed on the label actually is what is in the supplement. While there is no governmental oversight per say, there are private organizations that do test supplements for those manufacturers or retail sellers who pay them to do so.

I ran across this governmental website while researching this topic and I think that it is worth your time to take a look at it. The information is easy to understand and very informative.

While researching this topic it has become clear that the existing regulations are not enough and there are others who have the proper credentials that have come to the same conclusion. Maybe it is time for the FDA to rewrite the regulations governing dietary supplements with more protections that guarantee the consumer is getting what he or she pays for. They should include in these new regulations that the supplement(s) be guaranteed to be in the product, 100% of amount specified is in it and what are the inert ingredients. Any possible known allergy causing ingredients should be boldly marked on the label.

If there are contaminants that are in these supplements and they are not listed on the label, there should be great concern about this. Some of these unlisted contaminants and/or fillers could cause someone to have an allergic reaction that might even be fatal. The public expects that the products made today have what is listed on the label and nothing more. Is that too much to expect?

Also, any ingredients that come from foreign sources should be tested for safety and for the correct level of potency before they can put it into the final product.

There has been good bit of lobbying in the past to prevent new regulations from being introduced. It is about time that the supplements industry realizes that it is in their best interest(s) that new, more stringent regulations that boost consumer confidence are enacted. Without them the buying public will more than likely lose confidence in their products.

That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike