The video, which can be viewed below, was made as part of National Consumer Protection Week, and addresses the AG’s department’s work protecting the health and safety of consumers from “unsafe dietary supplements”.
“At the Department of Justice, we are committed to working with our partners across the federal government to protect the health and safety of all Americans,” said AG Lynch.
“Recently, we announced a nationwide operation targeting unlawful dietary supplements. We are bringing civil and criminal cases against more than 100 makers and marketers of supplements who were violating federal law by misrepresenting ingredients; by making unsupported health claims; or even by lacing products with undeclared substances.”
“The Justice Department is determined to hold bad actors in the dietary supplement industry accountable for their actions,” she said.
The key quotes from the AG include:
“What many Americans don’t know is that dietary supplements are not subject to testing by the Food and Drug Administration before they reach store shelves – meaning that every day, millions of Americans are ingesting substances whose safety and efficacy are not guaranteed.
“Some of these supplements are simply a waste of money, promising results they can’t deliver or advertising ingredients that they don’t contain. And too often, these supplements don’t just abuse consumer trust – they also endanger public health. Some contain harmful ingredients, causing consumers to fall ill. Others falsely claim to cure illness and disease, leading patients to use them as a substitute for the proven therapies they need. But whether these supplements are deceptive or dangerous, the fact remains that too many companies are making a profit by misleading – and in some cases harming – American consumers.
“I urge consumers to be cautious when choosing to take dietary supplements. Visit the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission websites, where you can find useful information about dietary supplements. Use tools developed by the Department of Defense and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, including a smartphone app, to help you make informed choices. And above all, if you are considering taking a dietary supplement, talk to a doctor first.”