Wal-Mart, GNC, Target and Walgreens are being accused of selling herbals supplements that do not contain herbs.
The New York State attorney general's office conducted an investigation into store-brand supplements sold at the four retailers. Each of the corporations has received cease-and-desist orders from the office, requiring the retailers to stop selling the products.
Wal-Mart was found to be the worst offender of the group. Not one of the six supplements tested by the attorney general's office was found to contain the main ingredient advertised on the label. A ginkgo biloba supplement sold by the company was found to contain houseplants, radish, and wheat, but no ginkgo.
Half of the store-brand herbal supplements sold by Target were found to be devoid of the active ingredient listed on the package. These included the sleep aid valerian root, as well as St. John's wort, and ginkgo biloba.
Concerns about the contents of herbal supplements have been raised in recent years. Researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada recently tested herbal supplements, and found one-third did not contain the main ingredient advertised on the package.
Industry spokespersons have stated that any problems detected by investigators were caused by small manufacturers and retailers. This new revelation by the government of New York suggests problems may be far more widespread.
"If this data is accurate, then it is an unbelievably devastating indictment of the industry. We're talking about products at mainstream retailers like Walmart and Walgreens that are expected to be the absolute highest quality," Pieter Cohen, an expert on supplement safety from Harvard Medical School, said.
Ginseng pills sold by pharmaceutical retailer Walgreens were found to contain nothing but rice and powered garlic. Unlisted fillers - including powdered legumes - were detected in supplements sold by GNC. Coming from the same family as peanuts, this ingredient can cause severe allergic reactions in some users.
"Mislabeling, contamination and false advertising are illegal. They also pose unacceptable risks to New York families - especially those with allergies to hidden ingredients," Eric Schneiderman, New York state attorney general, told the press.
Unlike prescription drugs, the federal government does not tightly control the sale of herbal supplements. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that ingredient labels for the products accurately represent the contents, there is little consequence for breaking the rules.
Wal-Mart has promised to contact the manufacturer and "take appropriate action." Managers for GNC promised to cooperate with the attorney general, while Walgreens promised to remove all the products from their stores immediately. Target did not respond publicly to the report.
