Regulatory Shift Alters Oversight of U.S. Dietary Supplement Industry

Bill Clinton enacted the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, which shifted regulatory control of the supplement industry away from the Food and Drug Administration. This change allowed manufacturers to use a disclaimer stating the product had not been evaluated by the FDA, even while suggesting the products could diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases.

The regulatory shift contributed to the dietary supplement industry growing into a $30 billion annual market. The law permits manufacturers to make health claims while avoiding FDA evaluation, despite scientific findings suggesting supplements may not help and could potentially lead to worse health outcomes.