passed to remove supplements from the strict controls of drugs and food. The dietary supplement industry is thriving because there are virtually no regulations for them, and they are producing around $6.5 billion a year (O'Donnel 1A). Though the White House has been recommending tighter regulation of dietary supplement labels in the last year, the FDA has been having trouble ensuring the safety of the products. In order for any of the supplements to be pulled off the market, the FDA must prove that the supplement poses an "imminent hazard" to public safety. While supplement sellers, users and companies say the 'imminent hazard' rule is enough power for the FDA to have to keep unsafe supplements off the market, the FDA has still has not taken any actions to control any supplement (O'Donnel 1A). Supplement manufacturers are reaping the benefits of avoiding the approval process. Developing dietary supplements costs a fraction of the money it takes to develop a drug, and it only takes around two years for them to reach the market. It is important to understand that any while chemical or herb is toxic at some level, it is unknown just at what level any supplement becomes toxic because the necessary test were not required to be performed (O'Donnel 1A). One can only speculate what lies ahead for the impact of dietary supplements on the health of the public.In the past, the FDA has strictly enforced the requirement for drugs to be safe and effective. However, pressure on congress from pharmaceutical companies has caused the government to initiate restrictions on the FDA's approval process. While many suffering patients are benefiting from the greatly increased speed of the approval process, many others are wondering if their safety is being jeopardized. The public must become aware of the fact that large companies' desires for big profits could be putting consumers at risk. Prescription drugs are meant to treat and cure illnesses, a...
