CHPA Statement: FDA Warning to Consumers Regarding Tainted Supplements Sold Online

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CHPA released the following statement in response to FDA’s warning that consumers avoid certain male enhancement and weight loss products sold by major online retailers due to hidden, potentially dangerous drug ingredients:

“While we applaud FDA for taking critical action in warning consumers about 50 male enhancement and weight loss products that contain ’hidden ingredients’ that ’may pose a significant health risk’, we are deeply concerned that these products were sold by online retailers exposing far too many consumers to dangerous, tainted products. An appropriate course of action would be to remove the tainted products from the market.

“This latest FDA warning underscores the critical need for regulatory modernization. More than 25 years after the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), we can no longer say this rapidly-growing industry is sufficiently regulated and consumers well protected. Simply calling on FDA to do more with what they have and pointing to just a few bad actors will no longer suffice. CHPA continues to advocate for increased resources to support more FDA enforcement and believes that tools including mandatory product listing could provide FDA additional authority to quickly identify and remove potentially hazardous and adulterated products from the market.”

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), founded in 1881, is the national trade association representing the leading manufacturers and marketers of consumer healthcare products, including over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, dietary supplements, and consumer medical devices. CHPA is committed to empowering self-care by ensuring that Americans have access to products they can count on to be reliable, affordable, and convenient, while also delivering new and better ways to get and stay healthy. Visit www.chpa.org.