Jane Black

You know, they come in a jar with a label claiming to address your health problems.

They feel like a drug.

But drugs have to go through this really rigorous testing to prove that they work.

Supplements do not.

Supplements live in this weird no-man's land.

But people did not like that.

They did not.

And Congress got more than 2 million letters, which was actually more than they ever got during Watergate.

So...

No disclaimers.

Yeah.

Melanie is a lawyer who focuses on food and drug regulations at the Environmental Working Group, which has for years advocated for safer consumer products and more regulation.

She says the last time Congress even attempted to regulate supplements was in the early 90s.

And the consumer revolt that followed?

basically killed any serious effort to regulate supplements ever again.

One day, FDA agents show up with the local police and kick down the door of the clinic.

It makes the front page of The New York Times.

And the supplement industry sees this big newsy raid as an opportunity to fight back.

They launch an incredibly effective counteroffensive.

Some stores even refused to sell supplements on certain days to, you know, make people really live out the nightmare of this world without vitamins.