GNC is increasing its testing to ensure its supplements contain the correct ingredients after reaching a deal to return certain herbal supplements to New York state shelves.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman pulled GNC’s Herbal Plus products — alongside supplements from Target, Walmart and Walgreens — earlier this year due to tests that showed the supplements didn’t contain the correct ingredients. The move was part of a greater push by states to rein in supplements, a market that has lax oversight by the Food and Drug Administration.
However, GNC announced Monday it struck an agreement with Schneiderman that all of its relevant products were in full compliance of FDA’s manufacturing standards and did in fact contain all of the listed ingredients.
The company also said it will expand its testing methods and include DNA barcoding where appropriate to ensure the ingredients in its supplements are correct.
GNC’s Herbal Plus series offers a line of herbal-extract supplements, such as grape seed extract meant to be an antioxidant.
Unlike pharmaceuticals, the FDA doesn’t approve every new supplement that hits the market. It does require companies to meet manufacturing quality standards and facilities are inspected.
With FDA oversight murky, states have stepped in to address supplement quality. States such as California and Connecticut have taken supplement manufacturers to court due to poor quality products.
