Would you support FDA regulation of supplements?

[anonymous]

For anyone who has been into fitness for an extended period of time we all know supplement companies can pretty much say and do whatever they like to sell products and really aren't held to any standards or regulations.

We have seen methamphetamines in pre-workouts
We have seen supplements not contain the ingredients they claim
We have seen protein powders not meet label claims in terms of protein content, fat, carb or cholesterol content
We have seen supplements with heavy metal contamination
We have seen the most popular protein bar of all time fail to live up to protein, fibre and calorie claims


With nature we know exactly what is in an egg.
With pharmaceuticals we know exactly what is in the product and what effects (real effects, not exaggerated claims) and what side effects come with the drug. We don't have to worry about buying a certain brand of acetaminophen to make sure we are getting the correct dose or any drug at all. This is thanks to the FDA regulating these drugs.


Sometime ago it was purposed that the FDA and in part Health Canada would monitor and regulate supplements and label claims. Meaning if you say that your product can add 10lb of muscle in 2 weeks you must be able to prove it in a clinical study before putting it on the label. Also the label must outline every ingredient and the amount of that ingredient in the product to be sold.

Supplement companies rallied together and spun the story that the government wanted control over your vitamins so that they could take them away. They claimed that you wouldn't be able to take vitamin C or echanicea anymore (utter BS), however they generated a petition to stop regulation and got millions of signatures because they skewed what was actually happening.

Supplement companies are now a multi-billion dollar business they can afford to run studies to prove claims. It wouldn't be up to a single company unless they wanted to patent a supplement, the top 20 companies could chip in and conduct studies on whatever it is BCAA, HBCD, Creatine and prove their claims and be able to use it on labels.

We could be confident that when a label claims 25g of protein it has 25g of protein. Also since they will be held to the burden of proof we will stop seeing the exaggerated claims on products like Celltech or Nitrotech.

Holding supplement companies to regulation and set standards would benefit consumers by ridding the shelves of useless supplements and by allowing clear science prove their claims

[eatyourspinach]

The FDA has some regulations for supplements they just may not be enforced properly, as far as label claims that may be something for the FTC.

[JDroste]

I think the "proprietary formulas" need to be ousted. Accurate dosage info is a must.

[anonymous]

The FDA has some regulations for supplements they just may not be enforced properly, as far as label claims that may be something for the FTC.

I've just spent the last little bit reading through the FDAs policies and regulations for supplements and its very minor, they are not held to label claims, and only once there is an issue is something investigated. If there was proper regulation, MuscleTech would have a very different advertising campaign

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegu...ucm2006823.htm

[djansen]

this and 3rd party testing to make sure whats stated on the label is accurate.

[eatyourspinach]

I've just spent the last little bit reading through the FDAs policies and regulations for supplements and its very minor, they are not held to label claims, and only once there is an issue is something investigated. If there was proper regulation, MuscleTech would have a very different advertising campaign

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegu...ucm2006823.htm

If you are referring to the protein content that is why a class action suit has been filed. But advertising as mentioned is controlled by the FTC http://www.ftc.gov/public-statements...substantiation

[demonwareltd]

Just had a discussion with one of our reps on this. I am for accurate labeling of products but not for regulation.

Supplements are already for 18+ and consenting adults want what they want. I just want to know what I am putting into my body. If we didn't make certain ingredients illegal, spiking would be a non issue.

[anonymous]

Just had a discussion with one of our reps on this. I am for accurate labeling of products but not for regulation.

Supplements are already for 18+ and consenting adults want what they want. I just want to know what I am putting into my body. If we didn't make certain ingredients illegal, spiking would be a non issue.

Accurate labels is one issue but unfounded claims is another. Why should supplement companies be able to make outlandish claims with no science behind them? I'd venture to say at least 75% of the supplement market could not prove any results from their products, and the only reason this number is not higher is because of the amount of protein supplements out there which can be proven in clinical settings

[aekest]

After seeing the fiasco unfold where the protein powders were laced with heavy metals requiring fda intervention. It's starting to make us question whether the current fda firefighting technique is working against issues in a loosely regulated industry.



Not to mention the good old protein content fallacy in 2012x that turned so many customers away from Myo that Gaspari had to file for bankrupsy http://www.reddit.com/r/Fitness/comm..._your_protein/

[cforfa]

I think the "proprietary formulas" need to be ousted. Accurate dosage info is a must.

this and 3rd party testing to make sure whats stated on the label is accurate.

I'll second both of these!

[DASBUNKER]

OP you're the warrior we need, your knowledge of the industry has no precedent. Please save us.

[1pecmanlet]

this thread looks oddly familiar.....

[Kronwall]

They should just regulate all the false info on the labels, such as "gain 10 pounds of muscle in a month!", "Increases bench press by 30". We all know its fake but there are unawares that see that and actually buy it not knowing what it does..

[anonymous]

They should just regulate all the false info on the labels, such as "gain 10 pounds of muscle in a month!", "Increases bench press by 30". We all know its fake but there are unawares that see that and actually buy it not knowing what it does..

That could only come from having to prove effectiveness, which is what I am talking about paired with accurate labeling of ingredients/amounts

[velocityrob]

I think the "proprietary formulas" need to be ousted. Accurate dosage info is a must.

Prop blends protect the research done by the companies. Its exactly like the secret recipe of Coke, and the "Eleven Herbs and Spices" of KFC.
However, I would like to see amounts of stims listed on the label.
And kudos to companies like NeoGenix that break down all amounts (no prop blends, far as I know).

They should just regulate all the false info on the labels, such as "gain 10 pounds of muscle in a month!", "Increases bench press by 30". We all know its fake but there are unawares that see that and actually buy it not knowing what it does..

This is called marketing. Adults can make their own decisions and OF COURSE the claims are not a guarantee.

[Valhallabound86]

Lol.

Most of this can be avoided if you take the time to actually research ergogens/articles/etc. In terms of spiked compounds, that can happen to any supplement you buy. Hell, B vitamins contained prohormones, remember that one?

More regulation isn't what's needed, it's customer intelligence that's in short supply more often than not.

[mentalist72]

More regulation isn't what's needed, it's customer intelligence that's in short supply more often than not.

^this.

Third party testing would be nice but it would also jack up the cost to us.

[TMac26]

You think stuff is expensive now.


Let the FDA get involved. You haven't seen high prices yet.

[Blacklac]

I think the "proprietary formulas" need to be ousted. Accurate dosage info is a must.

I would much rather just know what's listed on the ingredient label is actually what's in the product.

[stan47islav]

Prop blends protect the research done by the companies. Its exactly like the secret recipe of Coke, and the "Eleven Herbs and Spices" of KFC.
However, I would like to see amounts of stims listed on the label.
And kudos to companies like NeoGenix that break down all amounts (no prop blends, far as I know).



This is called marketing. Adults can make their own decisions and OF COURSE the claims are not a guarantee.

All non prop, that's why I stand by them.

I disagree with the whole secret formula thing. For things that are based on taste like soda or food I can understand but supplements no.

[TPAYNTER]

I'd love to see the industry become more regulated.

[dblum93]

I think it would be great to see the FDA step in for regulation of supplements and something that is more of a when it will happen rather than an if. But I will say it will definitely be tough and a process to get the FDA integrated into it, I'm sure there will be some resistance and obstacles in the way. Definitely a big thing that I have liked seeing is the trend against proprietary formulas. I hate them and it makes me think I am being conned or cheated of ingredients or quality of ingredients. Proprietary formulas being eliminated is a great first step and I can't wait for the day supplements are fully regulated!

[anonymous]

This is called marketing. Adults can make their own decisions and OF COURSE the claims are not a guarantee.

I'm going to come out with a pill and sell it as birth control, say prevents chance of pregnancy*

If people buy it and get knocked up it's okay because it's just marketing, the claim didn't have a guarantee behind it...

Great argument

[anonymous]

You think stuff is expensive now.


Let the FDA get involved. You haven't seen high prices yet.

Lol i've seen the raw costs of BCAAs, creatine, arginine, citrulline, agmatime, caffeine, beta alanine.... The high cost is due to the retarded mark up companies charge, not because of cost of production... If regulation got brought in and they tacked the price onto the consumer they would end up losing more profits than if they beared the cost

[doucdavr]

A bottle of Orange triad that I ordered was stopped by health canada for having 2000 iu of vitamin d. They said the limit is 1000. Yet on a health canada site it says the daily recommendation is 1500.

We're talking vitamins here.

If people can't do enough research on their own and they buy crap supplements then that's their problem. The educated consumer doesn't worry that he/she is getting the 25g of protein that Is on the bottle because they buy quality.

[MuscleUpCrohns]

Lol i've seen the raw costs of BCAAs, creatine, arginine, citrulline, agmatime, caffeine, beta alanine.... The high cost is due to the retarded mark up companies charge, not because of cost of production... If regulation got brought in and they tacked the price onto the consumer they would end up losing more profits than if they beared the cost

It all depends on what type of regulation we're talking about. I don't think many people here want pharmaceutical-drug style "regulation" in regards to ingredients being used. On the other hand, I'd say quite a few people would want to have a way to be sure that they're actually getting what's on the label. As for proprietary blends, I'm not a fan of them, at all, so I exercise my freedom of choice by not buying them. It's the same thing with GMO foods; if you don't want to eat GMO foods, buy something that says non-GMO.

To clarify my stance on the issue, I don't have a problem with companies selling useless supplements. Yes, some of the claims are rather outlandish, but they are legally obligated to say that the claims are not supported by the FDA. If people don't want to read the fine print of do any research of their own before spending money and putting something into their body...
The only "regulation" I'd potentially even consider supporting here would be ensuring that what's on the label is what's actually in the supplements at the listed amounts, but even then, that issue is essentially moot if you put in some effort.

[Valhallabound86]

Yeah bro lets ****ing regulate it and pay $150 for a few months worth of creatine. It'll be great.

Trickle down costs, since the FDA will end up pissing on our heads if we want ergogens.

[iamjeffrey]

Yeah bro lets ****ing regulate it and pay $150 for a few months worth of creatine. It'll be great.

Trickle down costs, since the FDA will end up pissing on our heads if we want ergogens.

CEE is twice as effective bro, for only a few hundred more bro!!!!!!!!!!!

[MuscleUpCrohns]

CEE is twice as effective bro, for only a few hundred more bro!!!!!!!!!!!

I heard if you say CEE three times fast StrengthHealth will appear...

[AMeyer9]

We can hope and dream but nothing will probably happen anytime soon. Pretty much comes down to buying from trusted brands and being an informed consumer. Some can get away with it because the masses are unaware.