Prosecutors from Connecticut, Indiana and Puerto Rico are joining New York's attorney general in an investigation of the herbal supplement industry.
The new coalition announced on Tuesday follows allegations by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman that DNA tests on certain store-brand supplements found contaminants but none of the herbs listed on the label.
"Consumers are entitled to expect that the product they are purchasing actually contains the ingredients as listed on the label," Connecticut Attorney General Jepsen said in a statement. "The findings uncovered by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman raise serious public health and consumer protection concerns potentially impacting consumers in Connecticut and across the country. As attorneys general have shown time and time again in recent years, we have a strong and unique ability to work together on behalf of our respective constituencies on issues of national concern. I thank Attorney General Schneiderman for his leadership, and look forward to partnering with him and my fellow attorneys general on this coalition."
Schneiderman ordered the supplements off the shelves last month and requested detailed quality control information from four supplement manufacturers.
Supplement makers aren't required to disclose to the federal Food and Drug Administration or consumers the information they have about the safety or purported benefits of their products.
Schneiderman said lax oversight of supplements can have serious public health consequences, noting a 2013 hepatitis outbreak traced to a tainted diet supplement.
