The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine

Sellers of "Natural" Products: A Review of Consumer Protection

Authors:
Ian C. Webb, MA
Jennifer E. Chatterton, BA
Barry L. Beyerstein, PhD
Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University

Abstract:
The authors review the current status of regulations regarding sales of herbs and supplements in North America. They question the adequacy of protection afforded the public, which has become accustomed to assuming that consumer items of this genre have been vetted for safety and efficacy by government agencies. The authors conclude that such trust is misplaced, given the current lax regulatory climate in Canada and the United States. They also review the literature covering assessments of the scientific knowledge of those who sell herbs and supplements, leading them to the conclusion that much inaccurate and potentially harmful information is distributed to potential consumers by those who have a financial interest in selling so-called natural health products.