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Fraudulent Supplements At Major Retailers

Dr. Scott Sanderson

The New York Attorney General?s office targets retailers selling fraudulent and potentially dangerous herbal supplements.

In early 2015, an important news story broke in the New York Times. The New York Attorney General?s office accused multiple very popular stores including Walmart, Target and Walgreens as well as the supplement store GNC of selling herbal supplements that were both potentially dangerous and fraudulent.

Authorities conducted DNA testing on 78 bottles of the most commonly sold supplements at these major retailers and found that 80% of them did not containany of the herbs listed on the labels. Sadly, they contained little more than cheap fillers like powdered rice, asparagus, houseplants and other substances that could be dangerous to people with allergies. This is a gross example of how companies sometimes behave with a lack of government over sight. Many unsuspecting consumers assume that because these products are sold in reputable stores that they must be safe and contain what they say they contain. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth.

Their findings were shocking:

  • A popular brand of Ginseng at Walgreens contained only powdered garlic and rice.
  • Ginko biloba sold at WalMart contained powdered radish, houseplants, and wheat, despite its label claim of being wheat and gluten free.
  • Three out of six herbal products at Target? ginko biloba, St. John?s wort, and valerian root tested negative for these herbs, but contained instead powdered rice, beans, peas, and wild carrots.
  • GNC sold products with unlisted fillers like powdered legumes, which includes peanuts and soybeans, which are hazardous to people with those allergies.

At Elite Health Hawaii, we ensure that our nutraceuticals meet the highest clinical standards. There is a vast difference in quality between our pharmacy grade nutraceuticals and typical products sold over the counter, as cited above by the New York Attorney General?s office. In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act was passed, removing third-party oversight from nutraceutical manufacturing. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in fraudulent active ingredient label claims and dangerous non-disclosure of actual compounds being used.

The reasons are very clear as to why patients should use Elite Health pharmaceutical grade supplements over ?similar? low-cost products found at many local health food stores. Our manufacturers are uncompromising in the following areas:

  • Quality of raw material sourcing
  • Testing for identity, purity and contamination
  • Unique formulations with synergistic blends

All Elite Health supplements are manufactured in the U.S. and undergo extensive testing to ensure they are of the highest quality. Raw materials are sourced from around the world and are carefully analyzed for potency and purity before ever being accepted for production. Each nutritional supplement in our formulary is manufactured according to the latest FDA-certified standards and undergoes independent third-party analysis to ensure its safety and efficacy. Elite Health Hawaii works with manufacturers who hold certifications from accredited, independent third-party organizations that test and certify products to verify they meet public health and safety standards.

The facts speak for themselves. Don?t jeopardize your health by taking a supplement with undisclosed and potentially harmful ingredients. It is critical that you spend a little extra to get much higher quality ingredients that actually work and improve your health!

Read the original article by clicking on this link.

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