Does Regulating Dietary Supplements as Food in a World of Social Media Influencers Promote Public Safety?

Joshua J Klein; Scott J Schweikart

doi:10.1001/amajethics.2022.396

Does Regulating Dietary Supplements as Food in a World of Social Media Influencers Promote Public Safety?

AMA J Ethics. 2022 May 1;24(5):E396-401. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2022.396.

[Article in English, Spanish]

Authors

Joshua J Klein¹, Scott J Schweikart²

Affiliations

¹ JD candidate at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois.
² Senior research associate for the American Medical Association Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs in Chicago, Illinois.

PMID: 35575571
DOI: 10.1001/amajethics.2022.396

Abstract

Social media influencers promote a wide variety of products, including dietary supplements. Dietary supplements are regulated as foods, not drugs, by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission. This article details weaknesses in administrative and common law regulatory approaches to addressing some influencers' negligent misrepresentation claims about dietary supplements.

MeSH terms

Dietary Supplements / adverse effects
Humans
Social Media*
United States
United States Federal Trade Commission
United States Food and Drug Administration