Four large retailers-GNC, Target, Walgreen Co, and Wal-Mart Stores, were recently ordered by the New York State Attorney General’s Office to discontinue selling their store brands of herbal dietary supplements due to supposedly mislabeled or contaminated product content. According to the NYAG, the “DNA barcoding tests revealed that eight out of the 10 store brand herbal products were devoid DNA from labeled plant material and/or contained dissimilar herbs or potentially allergenic fillers.”
The Office of New York State Attorney General Eric. T. Schneiderman is now requesting the documentation concerning the authenticity, clarity, and marketing of the herbal dietary supplements that have been sold in the state since January 1, 2013. The companies must also reveal other brands for which they manufacture products, due to the fact that they may also be investigated as well. The companies will have until March 13 to provide all detailed information.