Last year, the New York State attorney general initiated an investigation into dietary supplements sold at major retailers to ensure that the label ingredients were consistent with the actual product. It was found that four out of five products (80%) tested from major supplement retailers did not contain any of the herbs listed on their ingredient labels, and instead contained fillers and, in some cases, nuts and soy. This revelation put a great deal of pressure on the dietary supplement industry, and many companies, such as NBTY, are now complying with the genetic testing recommendations put forth by the New York State attorney general’s office. NBTY is one of the largest dietary supplement manufacturers in the US, with annual revenue of $3 billion and over 22,000 products. Late last month, the company announced plans to perform random tests of its products to screen for any allergens and to authenticate the supplements. The company is joining other supplement retailers, such as GNC and Nature’s Way, in using the recommended DNA barcoding sequencing method not only for supplement authentication, but also to check for any adulteration in its products, ensuring greater transparency for its customers.

Source: The New York Times