CHPA Survey: Consumers Call for Stronger Regulations of Dietary Supplements

While a strong majority of consumers said that dietary supplements have had a positive impact on their health and wellness, a majority also called for stronger regulation of this class of products, according to a survey recently released by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA).

The survey, which was conducted online, included a representative sample of 1,169 U.S. voters nationwide.

According to the survey, 92% of voters agreed that supplements had a positive impact on overall health, wellness, and quality of life, and 83% said they currently use dietary supplements to support their wellness needs. Almost as many (82%) said it was important to have convenient access to supplements for both them and their families.

However, responses suggested that consumers aren’t resoundingly confident in supplement safety, or aware of how they’re regulated. For instance, 88% of voters said they were ‘confident’ in supplement safety, but only 44% of respondents were ‘very confident,’ and 44% were ‘fairly confident.’ Less than half (48%) believe dietary supplements are regulated by the U.S. government, and most consumers assumed they were regulated in the same way as prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

A majority of consumers agreed with the statement that “current regulations should be updated and strengthened to protect consumers,” and 75% of voters supported the prospect of federal legislation to modernize the regulatory framework for dietary supplements.

When asked about more specific topics, consumers strongly supported measures to “give the FDA more authority to quickly stop the sale of unsafe or illegal products” (81%), establish mandatory product listing (81%), allow supplement companies to share published scientific studies on websites and marketing platforms (81%), “update outdated rules that block certain natural ingredients from being used in supplements, even if they are already known to be safe and beneficial for consumers” (78%), and allow third-party auditors to perform audits in addition to FDA inspections (79%).

“This survey reinforces what we’ve long known: Americans rely on dietary supplements as part of their daily health routine, and they expect a strong regulatory system to ensure the safety and quality of the products they consume,” said Scott Melville, president and CEO of CHPA. “It’s time to update DSHEA to further safeguard consumers from bad actors, facilitate industry innovation, and bring greater transparency to this fast-growing category of consumer healthcare products.”

The full results of the survey can be found here.