Attorneys general from 14 states are asking Congress to complete a comprehensive study of the herbal supplements industry, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said April 2.
Schneiderman and Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller are leading the group, which sent a letter to federal lawmakers asking for more oversight for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when it comes to herbal supplements.
The request is the result of an investigation by Schneiderman's office that found concerns over the marketing and safety of the products.
Schneiderman said he was “proud” to join with the bipartisan group of attorneys general asking for more federal oversight.
“When consumers take an herbal supplement, they should be able to do so with full knowledge of what is in that product and confidence that every precaution was taken to ensure its authenticity and purity,” Schneiderman said. “My office’s investigation reaffirmed long-standing concerns about the herbal supplements industry. The millions of consumers who take herbal supplements deserve to know whether they are getting what they pay for, and that these products are properly labeled and safe.”
Zoeller said the attorneys general are asking Congress for the inquiry in order to ensure that the public has all of the information on the products they are taking.
“My focus is on ensuring the best consumer protections for dietary and herbal supplements, and eliminating potential false or deceptive labeling that could be harmful to consumers,” Zoeller said.