In the wake on the New York State Attorneys office challenge of the $33 billion dollar a year supplements industry, at least one major retailer has agreed to concessions aimed at regaining consumer trust and reducing regulatory heat.
GNC, North America’s largest retailer of dietary supplements and one of the stores singled out in the sweep that accused retailers of selling fraudulent supplements, agreed to institute major changes in their policies. They promised to put a number of quality control mechanisms in place over the next 18 months, including the use of advanced DNA testing to authenticate products and check on presence of potential allergens before products go onto store shelves, as well as in-store labeling that explain how products were processed and what they contain.
The Attorney General has said he is in negotiations to put similar measure in place at the other retailers, including Walgreens, Walmart and Target. Mark Blumenthal of the American Botanical Council supported the GNC decision but expressed concern about a “patchwork” of differing regulations forming across the US as a result.However you look at it, this push to increase transparency and authenticate the purity of the products and safeguard the wellness of consumers is a trend that should and will continue – to the ultimate benefit of everyone both inside and outside the industry.
