Emerging Threats Surveillance and Investigation: Contaminated Dietary Supplements

There are many possible health risks to consider before using dietary supplements. Always talk with a health care professional before using any supplements.

• Supplements may contain ingredients that can have negative effects in the body:
  • Contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides can be unintentionally added during the manufacturing process and cause health issues.
  • Adulterants, including prescription drugs and unapproved substances, can also be intentionally added to dietary supplements, deceiving consumers and raising serious safety concerns.
• Some supplements can:
  • Interact with medicine.
  • Interfere with lab tests.
  • Have dangerous effects during surgery.
• Problems can occur especially if you:
  • Take more than one supplement at a time.
  • Mix medicines and supplements.
  • Take too much of some supplements.
  • Take supplements instead of medicine.

The U.S. has limited infrastructure for monitoring dietary supplement health and safety concerns. The company making the dietary supplement is ultimately responsible for ensuring their products are safe.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have authority to approve supplements for safety or effectiveness, or to approve their labeling, before the supplements are sold.

• The FDA’s role begins after the product enters the marketplace.
• Companies do not have to notify the FDA about their product going into the market.
• It is the responsibility of the supplement company to ensure their products meet safety standards and are not violating the law.
• Supplements cannot claim to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent diseases or they are subject to FDA regulation as a “drug.”
• If a product is found to be unsafe or doesn’t comply with the law, the supplement company can voluntarily recall the product but is not always forced to do so.

• Always talk to a health care provider before using any dietary supplements.
• Do not assume the term “natural” means the product is safe.
• If you think you have suffered a harmful effect or illness (an "adverse event") from a dietary supplement, contact or see a health care provider immediately.
  • Then report the adverse event to the FDA by submitting a report through the Safety Reporting Portal.

• FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
• Supplement Your Knowledge: Dietary Supplement Education Initiative | FDA
• Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements: Answers to Popular Questions | FDA
• Dietary Supplements | Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Look for third-party certifications like NSF/ANSI 173 for dietary supplement products that set strict standards and conduct comprehensive testing.