Did you know toxins in your supplements could contribute to cancer or reproductive issues?
Impotence in farm workers using toxic chemicals.
No wonder California implemented Prop 65.
Just a cursory view of the FDA’s resources on dietary supplements is enough to make my head spin. There’s a lot of garble on what they do and what they don’t, but no definitive info on why dietary supplement manufacturers are not required to get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements.
The burden of proof for safety is thus a bit elusive. According to the FDA’s Q&A on Dietary Supplements:
“there are no provisions in the law for the FDA to "approve" dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they reach the consumer. Under DSHEA, once the product is marketed, FDA has the responsibility for showing that a dietary supplement is "unsafe," before it can take action to restrict the product's use or removal from the marketplace”.
So, then how do they figure out which ones are unsafe? More from the Q&A page:
“…(the) FDA has limited resources to analyze the composition (of) dietary supplements”
“FDA does not have resources to analyze dietary supplements sent to the agency by consumers who want to know their content. Instead, consumers may contact the manufacturer or a commercial laboratory for an analysis of the content.”
Oh, I see: they don’t figure out which ones are unsafe until someone gets sick or hurt, unless the consumer pays for the testing or is able to get the manufacturer to release information about toxins in their products. The FDA then indicates that after a primary focus on products that already have caused injury/sickness:
“Enforcement priorities then go to products thought to be unsafe or fraudulent or in violation of the law.”
Ambiguous much? So, dietary supplements are not required to obtain FDA approval before going to market. They wait, then say the priority goes to the supplements that have already made people sick, then to the ones thought to be unsafe.
Thought to be unsafe by whom?
They already said they don’t have the resources to test and they don’t test based on consumer request. Are we then to believe 2nd tier priority go to products thought to be unsafe as a result of consumers paying for the testing and then bringing the results to the notice of the FDA?
All I’m saying is: these products are consumed on a regular basis just like many other things we consume. If the FDA treated other everyday consumables like this – waiting until we got sick or waiting for us to pay for toxic testing ourselves – well, I hear policy reform don’t you?
ERC neither promotes nor dissuades the use of any products. ERC uses third party independent testing for all noticed products. ERC’s mission is to safeguard the public from health hazards that impact families, workers, and the environment. ERC is dedicated to reducing the use and misuse of hazardous and toxic substances, facilitating a safe environment for consumers and employees and encouraging corporate responsibility..
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Toxin Telling Tools
In keeping with ERC’s objectives and purposes of educating you on toxins in products and how to reduce your exposure to them, we would like to introduce you to two toxin telling tools (now that’s alliteration for you!).
ERC has allied with Environmental Working Group by awarding donations to be used in furtherance of the organization’s ongoing efforts to protect the California public from health hazardous and toxic chemicals. The mission of @ewg “is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment”.
EWG has two great sites to help you make better choices: Food Scores and Skin Deep.
Much like dietary supplements, the FDA doesn’t review every ingredient in other consumer products either. So, EWG made an app for that! And, it’s not limited to just cosmetics. Check out these categories too: sun care & sunless tanning, skin care, hair & nails, fragrance, babies & moms, oral care, and men’s products. You can search by product type, product name, and score. (See ERC’s blog on the FDA and dietary supplements here.)
The Food Scores site allows you pick from over 20 categories to see how your fave brands stack up. For example, you can click on Tofu & Meat Alternatives then refine your search in several ways. You can search by product name, GMO free, score range and more. Check out what we found when we searched for a popular vegetarian product line.
Check out these valuable sites and download the apps today. Consumer education is a key to your health and safety. Know before you buy.
Copyright © Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.org. Reprinted with permission.
ERC neither promotes nor dissuades the use of any products. ERC uses third-party, independent testing for all noticed products. ERC’s mission is to safeguard the public from health hazards that impact families, workers, and the environment. ERC is dedicated to reducing the use and misuse of hazardous and toxic substances, facilitating a safe environment for consumers and employees and encouraging corporate responsibility.