Some Supplements Aren't What You Think

Last year, DM voiced its skepticism about dancers taking supplements. After all, how do you really know what’s in a bottle? Can you trust that the label is telling the truth? It turns out, you can’t. Earlier this week, The New York Times released data from an investigation by the New York state attorney general’s office. After analyzing supplements from four national retailers—Target, Walgreens, Walmart and GNC—they issued cease-and-desist letters, claiming that many of the supplements were fraudulent and, shockingly, that they contained ingredients that weren’t listed on the packaging. 

But the biggest kicker? According to the same tests, about four out of every five supplements analyzed didn’t even include the herb given on the product’s label. For instance, none of the gingko biloba (which has been thought to improve memory) from the four stores actually contained gingko biloba. Instead, analysts found traces of rice, garlic, mustard and other ingredients.