Finally take dietary supplements correctly - Germany's Unregulated Supplement Market Puts Consumers at Risk

Dietary supplements in Germany remain largely unregulated, raising concerns about safety and accuracy. Unlike medicines, these products do not require approval—only registration—and are checked only through random inspections. Recent investigations have revealed alarming discrepancies in dosages, contamination risks, and misleading labels.

Under current rules, dietary supplements fall under food law rather than pharmaceutical regulations. This means manufacturers can register their products with the German Federal Institute for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) without proving efficacy or verifying correct dosages. Food safety agencies in Germany's federal states perform only spot checks, leaving room for errors and abuse.

A 2020 study exposed severe issues with supplement dosages. Over half of the tested products exceeded the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment's (BfR) recommended maximum for at least one nutrient—sometimes by as much as 700 percent. Even the stated content on packaging can legally deviate by up to 50 percent from what's inside.

The Federation of German Consumer Organizations (Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband) has documented repeated violations, including contamination with carcinogens, salmonella, lead, and banned substances like sildenafil and sibutramine. Critics, including scientists and politicians, have long warned that weak regulations allow dangerous products to reach consumers.

While the EU has yet to set binding maximum limits for nutrient additives, Germany's BfR provides stricter guidelines than many other EU countries. However, manufacturers are not legally bound to follow them. This year, the EU is expected to introduce mandatory limits for certain ingredients, including selenium, vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, and iron.

The lack of strict oversight means consumers face risks from inaccurate labelling, excessive dosages, and harmful contaminants. With the EU poised to introduce binding limits for some supplement ingredients, tighter controls may soon reduce these dangers. Until then, experts urge caution when choosing unregulated dietary products.