You may be new to the dietary supplement industry and you want to abide by the laws and promote effective and safe products. Make sure that you do your due diligence in ensuring that the products or ingredients you would like to use are not adulterated or illegal. You cannot rely on the good words or the documentation of suppliers, distributors or contract manufacturers who would like you to sell their products. Unless you have audited them or you know for a fact that they are ethical and trustworthy, be watchful and evaluate your risk. Be aware that there are 3 categories that have been consistently associated with tainted ingredients, namely weight loss, male performance and muscle building. Check the new FDA database for tainted supplements to get a sense of the type of drugs that tend to make their way into dietary supplements. (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/sda/sdnavigation.cfm?filter=&sortColumn=1d&sd=tainted_supplements_cder&page=1)

Sibutramine is a weight loss agent that has been removed from the USA market in 2010 and sooner in many other countries due to safety issues. Steroids fall under the Controlled Substance Act and can only be made by authorized entities (manufacturers, distributors and dispensers) and legitimately prescribed and administered by approved practitioners (Pharmacists, doctors, researchers). (For more information, refer to Section 802 of Title 21 USC Controlled Substances Act at http://uscode.house.gov/search/criteria.shtml).  Analogs of the active molecule in Viagra are also found illegally in dietary supplements that promote male sexual performance.

Even though the federal agencies are increasing their surveillance, they do not have the man power to check every product and go after every reseller, promoter or supplier.  Do right by your customers and your end-users and help your industry be credible, safe and honorable. Greed is unfortunately rampant; it does not make it right. If you have any questions on your product, send me your questions and I will be happy to help you.