How to Identify Fake Supplements

Some products claiming to contain glucosamine may actually be fake supplements—that is, labeled as glucosamine while actually containing other substances that are less effective.

If you are a resident of Orange County, California, and have purchased either Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Glucosamine Chondroitin or GNC Glucosamine Sulfate supplements, you may have unknowingly purchased a product with fake glucosamine and may qualify to participate in this class action lawsuit investigation.

What is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine
is a popular dietary supplement that is used to help treat a number of conditions, such as osteoarthritis, glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, and multiple sclerosis, among others. Glucosamine is a chemical that is naturally found surrounding the joints of the human body. Supplemental glucosamine is taken from shellfish or produced in a lab.

Are There Different Types of Glucosamine?

There are different types of glucosamine, including glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, and N-acetyl glucosamine. It is important to note that these types of supplements should not be considered interchangeable, as they have different uses and capabilities.

What is “Fake” Glucosamine?

Sometimes, “fake” glucosamine just means that a product claiming to contain glucosamine sulfate actually contains glucosamine hydrochloride. While this is a real form of glucosamine, it does not have the same capabilities and efficacy. In other cases, products labeled as having glucosamine have none at all in any form.

Are Fake Supplements Illegal?

Glucosamine is regulated under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) because supplements are officially considered a type of food. According to the FDCA, which considers food to be adulterated if an essential part of it has been omitted, abstracted, or substituted for another substance.

If a company sells other substances as glucosamine sulfate, this would be considered omitting or abstracting an integral part of the product. If the substance used instead is glucosamine potassium chloride or other similar substance, this is considered a substitution and may therefore violate FDCA regulations.

The largely unregulated supplements market has been the subject of a slew of products liability litigation. Consumers often challenge these companies to prove their supplements can really provide the advertised health benefits.

What Supplement Brands May Be Fake?

Among the brands suspected of mislabeling their glucosamine supplement products are Whole Foods (365 Everyday Value Glucosamine Chondroitin) and GNC (GNC Glucosamine Sulfate).

Is There Already Litigation Over Fake Glucosamine?

Back in 2018, four plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Walmart, alleging the retail giant sold purposely mislabeled glucosamine supplements. According to the lawsuit, Walmart’s glucosamine supplements were fake—they allegedly did not consist of purely glucosamine sulfate. Instead, the plaintiffs said the supplements were a combination of glucosamine hydrochloride and potassium sulfate. The lawsuit noted that these are cheaper than glucosamine sulfate, but are not as effective as glucosamine sulfate.

Many consumers purchase glucosamine supplements in order to treat osteoarthritis or receive other health benefits. A less effective supplement labeled as the more effective glucosamine sulfate may be misleading, and it can deny the consumer the benefits they wanted out of the purchase in the first place.

The lawsuit alleged that Walmart either knew or should have known that the use of glucosamine hydrochloride is not associated with the effective treatment of osteoarthritis, yet mislabeled the supplement anyway.

Can You File an Orange County Fake Supplements Lawsuit?

If you are a resident of Orange County, California and have purchased one of two glucosamine supplements—either Whole Foods’ 365 Everyday Value Glucosamine Chondroitin or GNC Glucosamine Sulfate—you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Top Class Actions can connect you with an experienced attorney who can help you determine if you have a legal claim.

Join a Orange County, California Fake Glucosamine Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you live in Orange County, California and you purchased either 365 Everyday Value Glucosamine Chondroitin or GNC Glucosamine Sulfate, two brands of glucosamine supplements that may contain “fake” glucosamine sulfate, you may have a legal claim.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.