A new documentary titled “Supplements and Safety” and released on January 19th examines whether fish oil supplements, as well as others, are what they appear to be and whether they cause unanticipated side effects for millions of vulnerable Americans. The most frequently used supplements include vitamins, fish oil, and fat-burning products; however, they are—generally—unregulated by the government, sometimes leading to serious side effects, disease, and even contamination, and a variety of enforcement actions.
Fish Oil Supplements
Many people have come to rely on labels to accurately inform them about products. However, the Supplements and Safety documentary uncovered that most fish oil supplements—supposedly taken to provide omega-3 fatty acids—do not actually have the amount that they indicate. In addition, most studies have found no indication that they actually do what they purport—guard against heart disease.
Laws & Litigation
Weight loss and bodybuilding supplements have arguably garnered the most attention from the media due to their ability to elevate blood pressure and heart rate, sometimes leading to heart attacks, strokes, kidney or liver damage or failure, and even depression.
Lawsuits surrounding these and other supplements have been the source of litigation not only when customers experience ill health effects—sometimes even death—as a result of taking them, but also challenging false health claims made by manufacturers and sellers. Although the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 was intended to protect the public health from potential issues associated with these products, in fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is often not even provided with accurate data regarding the product and/or its ingredients.
Of course, although not all supplements cause harm, the overarching issue is that many consumers are unaware of what’s actually in these products and where they come from, and sometimes these products are adulterated with new ingredients and even illegal. Although the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 regulates the contents of these fish oil supplements, many have made their way onto the shelves with incorrect labeling. This can give rise to misleading advertising and personal injury claims.
Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys for Help
Sometimes personal injuries come in surprising forms, such as having a reaction to an undisclosed ingredient in a supplement and suffering a health defect due to taking the product. Some supplements have even been found to increase your risk of developing certain types of cancers. The problem has become so severe, in fact, that class action lawsuits have been filed against retailers as well for selling adulterated or mislabeled/fraudulent products.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a supplement and now face medical bills and pain and suffering as a result, contact us for a free consultation. Our New Orleans location serves clients from all areas throughout Louisiana.