Supplements in the Kennedy era aren't totally immune
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Photo illustration: Allie Carl. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been portrayed as supplements' savior, but his FDA plans may not go down easy.
Why it matters: Millions of Americans take supplements, and how the federal government treats them impacts everything from individual health to a booming business' bottom line.
Catch up quick: The FDA regulates supplements (a more than $60 billion industry), but unlike prescription drugs, companies don't need preapproval to sell them. The agency usually only steps in after a product is flagged as unsafe or misleading.
What we're hearing: Kennedy, known for taking multiple vitamins himself and touting some supplements as treatments, is directing the FDA to require review of all Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) affirmations — the process companies use to show a substance is safe to eat without needing full agency approval.
Between the lines: That proposal might be "well intentioned," Natural Products Association CEO Daniel Fabricant says, but could drive up supplement prices and limit consumer choice.
- Fabricant, a former FDA director, says the food and supplement industries could face "one standard federally, and then 50 other standards state-wise. How is that workable for anybody?"
Reality check: Kennedy has a lot going on, from weighing in on childhood vaccinations to pushing for autism cures and fighting food additives.
What they're saying: "We encourage individuals to consult a healthcare provider when choosing a dietary supplement, and we will continue working to strike the right balance between protecting public health and respecting personal choice," HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon told Axios in an emailed statement.
The bottom line: While Kennedy's nutritional tilt energizes supplement makers, his FDA proposals could still introduce new regulatory hurdles that the industry may not fully welcome.
