Why should consumers feel secure about the safety of the dietary supplement products they purchase?
The manufacturer of a dietary supplement product is responsible for ensuring a dietary supplement product is safe before it is marketed. The manufacturer must ensure that the Supplement Facts label and ingredient list are accurate, that the ingredients are safe, and that the content matches the amount declared on the label. Manufacturers also must tell FDA when they make structure/function claims. Manufacturers of dietary supplements with new dietary ingredients must provide FDA with the information used to conclude that the product containing the new dietary ingredient is reasonably expected to be safe. It is important for consumers to find out as much as possible about a dietary supplement before they take it. While the Internet provides a great deal of helpful information, often times it is difficult for a consumer to discern whether the information is accurate or not. The basic rule of thumb is for consumers to remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Consume
