The company allegedly sold thousands of units of products containing picamilon or BMPEA that were falsely labeled as a dietary supplement.
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According to the Attorney General, the products that were misrepresented are “actually unapproved drugs that may not be lawfully sold in the United States as a dietary supplement”. The company said it took that step in response to Food and Drug Administration statements about the regulatory status of the ingredients.
“GNC believes that the lawsuit filed by the Oregon Attorney General is without merit, and the Company intends to defend itself vigorously against this unfair action”. These ingredients are not approved in the USA for human use, nor are they considered natural, so they shouldn’t be hiding in botanical supplements at GNC stores. The suit alleges that GNC knowingly violated Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act and, in doing so, endangered consumers of their dietary supplements. The illegal and “potentially dangerous” ingredients in question are called picamilon and BMPEA.
In fact, insists Oregon assistant attorney general David Hart, any state has the power to work in consumers’ interest. Afterwards, an FDA study revealed that 43% of the dietary supplements tested that were labeled as containing AR were “spiked” with BMPEA.
This isn’t the first time GNC has found itself in hot water with state and federal regulators.
Picamilon, while not approved in the United States, is used as a prescription drug in a few countries to treat neurological conditions.
According to the court papers, the health-and-nutrition-products retailer has sold products that either had picamilon or BMPEA.
GNC shares have fallen on news of the lawsuit.
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The lawsuit compiles a list of supplements that will be under question.
