Marion Nestle slams supplement scene

Published in SFGate.com, Nestle’s article criticizes the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), saying it provides little federal oversight of the industry.

“Congress passed DSHEA on the basis of two quite questionable assumptions: That supplements are basically harmless, and that supplement-makers are basically honest (…) The purpose of DSHEA was to allow supplement-makers to market the health benefits of their products, with or without scientific proof,”​ wrote Nestle, who is professor in the department of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University.

She said that distrust of the supplement industry is widespread and a threat to long-term profitability, which has prompted its “more responsible” ​members to support stronger FDA oversight.

“Better regulation would counter the impression that supplements are unregulated, would help restore consumer confidence, and would level the playing field so that all supplement-makers would have to produce safe, reliable and honestly advertised products.”​

To read the full article, click here​.