04.01.07
ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY, has released the results its “Survey of Vitamin and Supplement Users,” which revealed that 77% of consumers surveyed report being highly satisfied (“extremely” or “very” satisfied) with the brands of dietary supplements that they use. An additional 21% were “somewhat” satisfied, and very few (2%) were dissatisfied. Satisfaction was also high with the merchants from which supplements were purchased, with 71% of respondents being highly satisfied. The most common place to purchase supplements was online, with 40% of respondents reporting an online purchase within the past year. This was followed by health food stores (34%), vitamin stores (27%), pharmacies (25%), warehouse clubs (23%), catalogues (20%), supermarkets (18%), independent distributors (18%), mass merchants (18%) and healthcare practitioners (9%).
In other news, ConsumerLab.com has released the results of its report on St. John’s Wort, which showed that only four St. John’s Wort products met quality standards among the 10 it selected for testing. Two products did not identify the plant parts used, as required by the FDA under DSHEA. Consequently, these products did not go on for further testing. Two products exceeded World Health Organization guidelines for cadmium contamination in herbal products. And another two products contained less St. John’s Wort marker compounds (hypericin and/or hyperforin) than claimed on their labels.
In other news, ConsumerLab.com has released the results of its report on St. John’s Wort, which showed that only four St. John’s Wort products met quality standards among the 10 it selected for testing. Two products did not identify the plant parts used, as required by the FDA under DSHEA. Consequently, these products did not go on for further testing. Two products exceeded World Health Organization guidelines for cadmium contamination in herbal products. And another two products contained less St. John’s Wort marker compounds (hypericin and/or hyperforin) than claimed on their labels.