SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline) – Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum recently filed a lawsuit against General Nutrition Corp. (GNC) over allegedly using illegal ingredients in its products.
Picamilon and BMPEA, two ingredients that are illegal in the United States, were allegedly found in nutritional and dietary supplement products being sold by GNC. The lawsuit claims that the company misrepresented certain products as lawful dietary supplements, despite the fact that these products contained unlawful ingredients. This alleged action violates the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act.
“It is scary to know that certain products sold by GNC contain an ingredient that is not even labeled–let alone approved in the United States,” Rosenblum said. “When Oregonians buy a dietary supplement, they deserve to know that the ingredients in the products are safe and comply with the law. There are 25 GNC stores in Oregon that sold thousands of these products over the span of a couple of years.”
The complaint further alleges that GNC sold products that showed botanical acacia rigidula as an ingredient, yet had been spiked with unlabeled BMPEA.
Picamilon is a synthetic chemical, while BMPEA is a powerful stimulant and amphetamine-like substance. Both are not approved in the United States.