Michigan Bill Seeks to Ban Supplement Sales to Minors
A new bill introduced in the Michigan House today would prohibit minors from purchasing dietary and muscle-growth supplements, aiming to protect young people from potential health risks and body image issues.
State Representative Erin Byrnes, D-Dearborn, introduced the legislation yesterday, targeting products often marketed for weight loss or muscle gain. Byrnes stated, “Diet pills are not something children need and marketing them to minors is simply wrong,” adding that these products “can be dangerous, come with serious side effects and minors who use them are far more likely to develop body image issues, dysmorphia or eating disorders later in life.” The bill comes as rates of eating disorders and body dysmorphia continue to rise among adolescents.
The proposed law would require retailers to verify a customer is at least 18 years old – through ID checks for physical stores and age/address verification for online sales – before selling supplements like creatine, green tea extract, raspberry ketone, garcinia cambogia, and coffee bean extract. A civil fine of up to $1,000 per violation would be imposed on retailers. The Michigan Board of Pharmacy would establish a comprehensive list of restricted supplements based on factors including marketing claims and categorization by retailers, as detailed in the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs guidelines. Experts at the National Eating Disorders Association have long warned about the dangers of unregulated supplements.
Supporters of the bill, including Dr. Kendrin Sonneville of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, argue it will protect vulnerable teens from deceptive marketing practices. Dr. Vivienne Hazzard of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine added, “Across studies, we see a consistent pattern: early use of these unregulated products predicts later harm.” The legislation now awaits consideration by a House committee.
