Attorney General, GNC Reach Deal Over Herbal Supplements
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York Attorney General and GNC announced an agreement Monday over the retailer's Herbal Plus products.
Under the deal, GNC has agreed to better labeling and DNA testing on all active ingredients.
In February, Schneiderman's office sent letters to GNC, Target, Walmart and Walgreens for allegedly selling store brand herbal supplement products in New York that either could not be verified to contain the labeled substance or were found to contain ingredients not listed on the labels.
At GNC, "only 21 percent of the products we tested in fact had DNA evidence that they contained the product listed on the label," the attorney general told reporters, including 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa.
Schneiderman said instead buyers are receiving powdered rice, house plants and other fillers, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
"The American consumers deserve to get what they pay for, especially when it comes with promises of better health," he said.
The attorney general is still investigating Walgreens, Walmart and Target.
Schneiderman said the industry resembles the Wild West.
"There's too much money being made, and there's too weak a regulatory regime," he said.
GNC said that in responding to the attorney general, it provided results of internal tests and those conducted by independent third parties. The Pittsburgh company said the tests gave "conclusive evidence" that its products are safe, properly labeled and in full compliance with regulatory requirements.
In addition, GNC said that the tests showed that its products contain all herbal extracts listed on their respective labels.
The retailer said the full assortment of Herbal Plus products have returned to all of its stores in New York. The company also said it will expand its testing processes for supplement suppliers.
GNC said lawsuits were filed against it after the Schneiderman's announcement in February. The company said that it believes the lawsuits are "completely without merit" and that it will defend itself aggressively.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)