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FDA Issues Warning Against Steroid-Tainted Supplements

The Food and Drug Administration this week issued a public heath advisory, warning people against using a range of dietary supplements, because of the presence of steroids or steroid-like substances in these products. The FDA has sent a warning letter to the California offices of American Cellular Labs, saying that the company has been selling unapproved and misbranded drugs. In the warning letter, the FDA says that the ALC has marketed and distributed products that violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act because they do not meet the definition of dietary supplements. To be considered a dietary supplement under the Act, a product must contain vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements.

The ACL offices were raided by FDA investigators looking for evidence that ACL sold steroids branded as dietary supplements. The products were sold as muscle builders, and were mostly sold through mail order over the internet, and at gyms. The products claim to have steroid-like ingredients that build muscle, but according to the agency, these supplements actually contain synthetic steroids.

According to the agency, over the past couple of years, it has received at least five reports of injuries that are directly related to the products. These injuries have included serious liver damage. There have been no reports of deaths or liver transplants, but patients have been hospitalized for these injuries. At least 15 other adverse events have been attributed to similar products made by other manufacturers. The FDA has recommended that consumers stop using body building products that contain steroids, or any steroid-like products. Any side effects must be reported to a doctor immediately. ACL has been given 15 days time to respond to the FDA warning.

The products were heavily used by school athletes. These products were easily available in stores, and so, school athletes were likely to consider them safe. Because most high school athletes are not subject to drug testing programs, they remained unaware that the products contained steroids.

FDA officials also warn that consumers must exercise caution whenever they buy any dietary supplement, whether these contain steroid-like ingredients or not. That’s because these dietary supplements are not put through a rigorous testing process before they are marketed and distributed.

There has been a spate of recent recalls related to nutrition and dietary supplements this year. Earlier this year, the most high profile of such recalls, involved Hydroxycut, a highly popular nutritional supplement, because of its link to liver injuries. At least one death was traced to liver injuries from Hydroxycut use.

These incidences have put the spotlight on the Food and Drug Administration’s lack of oversight over the nutrition and dietary supplement industry. The FDA can only monitor these products once they are introduced into the market, and can only act once any injures have been reported.  California product liability lawyers have expressed concern that such delayed action makes it a tad late for persons who suffer serious or fatal injuries though use of these products.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of product liability. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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