Law on dietary supplements reviewed by Congress

Offices of many companies suspected of making bodybuilding products that illegally contain steroids and are sold as over-the-counter dietary supplements were raided by the federal agents.

A warning to consumers was issued by the FDA for not to use products marketed as bodybuilding products and containing steroids or that claims to enhance testosterone.

From NYTimes.com:

Now Congress is investigating whether laws, health agency resources and manufacturing guidelines are adequate to protect the public from products that illegally contain steroids but masquerade as dietary supplements.

Under the law, dietary supplements are generally defined as products that contain or are derived from natural foodstuffs like minerals or herbs and do not claim to prevent, mitigate or cure specific illnesses.

But when products marketed as supplements are found to contain pharmaceutical ingredients like steroids, the federal government considers them misbranded — and unapproved illegal drugs.

Many companies exploit the absence of premarket regulation for selling magic powders and pills while using reputation of the health food industry to cloak themselves with the appearance of respectability and safety, as per Travis T. Tygart, chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Agency.