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FDA launches tougher oversight of supplements

Agency plans to overhaul 25-year-old rules to protect consumers and spur innovation.

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February 11, 2019 at 11:02 a.m. EST
Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, announced new efforts Monday to boost regulation of dietary supplements. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post)

The Food and Drug Administration said Monday it planned to beef up oversight of the sprawling, $50-billion-a-year dietary supplements industry, warning that the sector’s explosive growth has resulted in risks to consumers — more supplements “spiked” with unlisted drug ingredients, and false and misleading claims about health benefits.

At the same time, the agency announced it had sent 12 warning letters and five advisory letters earlier this month to companies the FDA said were selling dozens of products that contain unapproved drugs or making illegal claims for treating Alzheimer’s disease or other serious conditions.