After Hydroxycut® was pulled from shelves nationwide for causing ill-health (and in one case, death) to unassuming seekers of rock-hard abs, consumers expressed outrage and confusion that a dangerous supplement was available to purchase over the counter.
Federal ingredient, labeling and manufacturing laws are stringent, thorough and reliable… but unfortunately, regulation is not required by the FDA on many items that are available in your neighborhood health stores. From FDA.Gov: Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the dietary supplement manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement is safe before it is marketed. This Act poses a problem for the consumer but issues relief to many companies that create products that are ineffective (best case scenario), or alternatively should have never been created in the first place (let alone seen the light of day on store shelves.)
And while supplement companies are generally not regulated by the FDA, we are fortunate that there are independent watchdogs looking out for better health and safety of the American people (and everyone else who shops in this country.) Case in Point: White Plains, NY; a hard-working team of scientist’s is stepping in where the FDA steps out – ready to test and report on unregulated supplements for us. From ConsumerLab.com >> Vitamins, herbs, and other supplements are not regularly tested by any government organization. Only ConsumerLab.com continually evaluates nutritional supplements in a laboratory environment. It also investigates problems with drugs. Since 1999, it has tested more than 2,000 products!
Note: The FDA Consumer Website does a phenomenal job of providing facts, news, and updates about nearly everything we put in, on and around our body.
