The Food and Drug Administration is coming down on the makers of certain dietary supplements whose products contain an ingredient that has yet to be proven safe.
Ten different manufacturers and distributors have received a warning letter from the safety agency because their products contain what’s known as dimethylamylamine, or DMAA. Also known as geranium extract, the makers of the products many times refer to the item as a natural stimulant, but the FDA takes issue with its presence.
They say that none of the companies have proved the safety of DMAA. Because the ingredient falls under the category of New Dietary Ingredient, the companies that include it must prove through various testing that DMAA is safe before they set out to market it. Doing otherwise takes the items out of compliance with FDA regulations, forcing the agency to classify the products as adulterated.
The FDA has stated that they have not acquired evidence that proves DMAA’s safety, and in fact have anecdotal data that shows the opposite. DMAA is known to narrow blood vessels, thus increasing blood pressure. Products containing DMAA have also prompted 42 complaints to the FDA, although it should be noted the ingredient was never proven to be the cause of the reported health issues.
The companies have 15 days to respond.
Take it from a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles like me: compliance with FDA regulations is essential to preserving safety. I hope as a Riverside personal injury lawyer that pains are taken to correct these violations, as to do otherwise could be dangerous for the citizens of this country.