Dietary Supplements and the FDA

                                                                                         

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 defines an ingredient of a dietary supplement to be either a vitamin, an amino acid, a mineral, an herb or other botanical item. This was signed into law by President Clinton and created a framework for the safe labeling of dietary supplements. What is most important here is the fact that under DSHEA, dietary supplements do not require FDA approval, that is, unless it is a new dietary ingredient that is being used in the process. Currently, there are not any FDA regulations that are specific to dietary supplements however, the FDA is proposing to regulate manufacturing standards that will focus on purity, quality, strength, identity and composition of the dietary supplements.

When you purchase a bottle of vitamins, be assured that the label does in fact list all the ingredients, as the FDA has mandated that all ingredients are listed. If you do not find all the ingredients listed under the “Supplemental Facts”, you will find it under “Other Ingredients”. Keep in mind, however, that the FDA is not responsible for ensuring the product is safe for consumption or effectiveness. This responsibility falls under the manufacturer’s realm of responsibility. In addition to this, the FDA is not responsible to investigate any complaints received from consumers regarding the consumption or effectiveness of dietary supplements. In fact, once the product is available on the market, the FDA will then have to prove that the dietary supplement is unsafe before it can take the necessary steps to have it removed from the sale on the open market which has been proven in the past to be a very time consuming process.

It is very important to be well informed about dietary supplements because of the lack of FDA approval before you purchase them. There are so many different products available on the market today and new ones getting introduced every week, so read the labels carefully and know what you are purchasing.

About the author:
FDA Approval ensures consumers products are safe for consumption. The Food and Drug Act mandates extensive testing on new products to ensure product safety and quality.

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