Store display of herbal supplements (Photo : Reuters)
Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, GNC, and other retailers have been ordered to remove several popular herbal supplements from their New York stores' shelves. That is after the state's Attorney General's subpoenas demanding that companies supply proof of their bottles' health claims.
The recent hullaballoo about supplements started when New York's Attorney General made a startling announcement. According to state studies, 80 percent of samples contained no DNA traces of the claimed main ingredient.
However, many independent experts have said that a valid explanation exists. Dan Armstrong, a University of Texas chemistry professor, explains that there "shouldn't be much" DNA left after the manufacturing process, according to Forbes.
Pieter Cohen, an assistance professor at Harvard Medical School describes the process of manufacturing the supplements as "huge." Companies also use the "most inexpensive" method, according to Philly.
The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) monitors the manufacturing of herbal supplements. However, it is less lenient than in regulating prescription drugs.
The herbal supplement industry in the U.S. generates nearly $100 billion yearly. New York's recent move has made waves and worry nationwide.
For several years popular scientific journals have published studies showing that various popular herbal supplements have few or no health benefits. Some of them, such as St. John's Wort, can actually cause health problems.
A 2007 study discovered that in one year nearly 18 percent of American adults used natural supplements. When vitamins and minerals are included, the total skyrocketed to 53 percent, from 2003 to 2006.
Many physicians who prescribe vitamins and minerals for particular conditions do not recommend herbal supplements to their patients. For example, folic acid is often prescribed for women who wish to become pregnant.
Will the recalled herbal supplements eventually get a clean bill of health?
