US trade group the Natural Products Association has warned that a new Bill being introduced in California that would age restrict weight loss and over-the-counter diet pills is “misguided” and representative of an “alarming trend (across the country) to restrict access to nutritional supplements”.
Bill AB 1341, due to come into effect on 1 July 1 2022, will affect the sale of specific classes of weight loss and diet products including thermogens, lipotropics, hormones, and appetite suppressants. Retailers found violating the new laws could face a penalty of $1,000.
The Bill’s promoters fear that diet supplements may exacerbate problems for young people with eating disorders and body image worries.
In a press release NPA president and CEO Daniel Fabricant, stated: “The notion that this is even a priority during a pandemic and while California is facing its largest budget deficit in history is absurd.”
“The notion that this is even a priority during a pandemic and while California is facing its largest budget deficit in history is absurd”
Commenting on the fact that the California Bill echoes similar efforts by legislators in other US states to restrict the sale of weight loss supplements to under 18s, he added: “While this proposal is misguided, it is unfortunately becoming an alarming trend across the country as more states consider policies that would restrict access to nutritional supplements.”
Pointing out that thermogenics and lipotropics are found in widely consumed foods and beverages, Fabricant said: “Nutritional supplements are simply natural ingredients found in foods and restricting access to them is unfair to California consumers, hurts responsible retailers, and drains the state budget through lost sales taxes. Nobody wins.”
