If your company markets nutritional supplements, the burden of proof is on you to convince shoppers that your claims are genuine. The New York State Attorney General has taken a major step toward addressing the problem of fraudulent herbal supplements by targeting four major retail chains for stocking falsely-labeled products.
Walmart, GNC and Walgreens are believed to have stocked supplements that claimed to contain herbs like Echinacea, St. John’s Wort and ginseng, as the Atlantic reports. In several cases, the supplements contained no traces of the alleged ingredients, as judged after analyzing the DNA of the supplements and looking for the genetic material of certain plants. The investigation stems from the office of the New York State Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, who has now demanded that the items not be sold.
The New York Times features digital copies of the letters that the stores received, which warn against the consequences of selling improperly-labeled goods.
“Be advised that the Attorney General is authorized by Executive Law § 63(12) to investigate allegations and prosecute businesses which perpetuate fraud upon consumers or engage in illegality in their business practices,” a letter addressed to the President of Walgreens reads. “General Business Article 22-b further authorizes this office to redress deceptive business acts and practices and false advertising.”
An article in the Atlantic features some of the responses from these corporations. While Target did not reply, Walmart and Walgreens have taken action in response and GNC said it will only remove the contested products from sale if the law forces them to.
It’s easy for companies to show users the legitimacy of their products by using industrial labeling systems. The right combination of text and images conveys important information consumers need to know in an effective, lasting way.
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