Health Claims on GNC Dietary Supplements

April 2019: This case was transferred from state court to federal court. (Case No. 19-cv-1984, N.D. Cal.)

March 2019: A class-action lawsuit was filed against General Nutrition Corp. (GNC) for allegedly claiming – without FDA approval – that certain dietary supplements treat, cure, prevent, and mitigate hypercholesterolemia, coronary heart disease, and osteoporosis. The complaint also claims that GNC misleadingly labels several supplements – including Healthy Cholesterol Formula, Policosanol, Ultra 35 Probiotic Complex with Cholesterol Support, and Probiotic Solutions Adults 50 Plus – as being able to maintain and support normal or healthy cholesterol levels without clarifying that the supplements do not actually lower cholesterol and without FDA approval to make such claims. GNC also allegedly misleadingly implies that other supplements – including Women’s Ultra Mega 50 Plus Vitapak – treat osteoporosis by labelling them as building, strengthening, or maintaining bones in menopausal women without FDA approval to make such claims. (Labajo et al v. General Nutrition Corp., Case No. CGC-19-574459, California State Court – San Francisco)