ACSH Trustee and Hoover Institution Fellow Dr. Henry Miller, a former FDA official, argues on Forbes.com that many dietary supplements are “complex, highly variable, and impure,” and that they should be more closely scrutinized.”
“Most people are simply unaware that supplements have their own law guaranteeing that they do not need to be tested for safety and efficacy,” says Dr. Whelan. “Supplement manufacturers are allowed to make unrealistic claims, and their products can cause harm by interacting with real drugs. Dr. Miller makes the point that it’s time for this special treatment to end.”
Stier explains, “When a pharmaceutical company makes a new drug, they have the burden of proof to show that it is safe and effective. With these supplements, the government has burden of proof to show that they are dangerous before they can be pulled from the shelves.”