The Washington Post (2/11, McGinley) reports the Food and Drug Administration announced that it plans to increase oversight of the dietary supplements industry due to increased risks to customers, including “unlisted drug ingredients, and false and misleading claims about health benefits.” The FDA “underscored the need for greater oversight by announcing it had sent 12 warning letters and five advisory letters earlier this month to companies the FDA said are selling dozens of products that contain unapproved drugs or make illegal claims for treating Alzheimer’s and other serious diseases.”
The New York Times (2/11, B6, Kaplan) reports FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb “suggested that Congress strengthen the F.D.A.’s authority over” the supplements “industry, which sells as many as 80,000 kinds of powders and pills with little federal scrutiny.” During an interview, Gottlieb said, “People haven’t wanted to touch this framework or address this space in, really, decades and I think it’s time we do it.” Gottlieb said he was especially concerned about supplements that claim to cure diseases, which may prevent or delay people from seeking medical treatment, saying, “We know there are effective therapies that can help patients with Alzheimer’s. But unproven supplements that claim to treat the disease but offer no benefits can prevent patients from seeking otherwise effective care.”
Related Links:
— “FDA launches tougher oversight of supplements, ” Laurie McGinley, The Washington Post, February 11, 2019