January 1, Walmart Under Investigation Over Dietary Supplements

A team of attorneys are investigating the potential mislabeling of dietary supplements sold at Walmart.

Attorneys for Top Class Actions believe that Walmart may be mislabeling some of the supplements it sells, specifically Qunol Extra Strength Magnesium and Equate Magnesium. Walmart markets its generic health and beauty products under the Equate brand.

Magnesium is vital to your health, but supplements may bring complications

According to the Mayo Clinic, magnesium plays a multitude of vital roles within the body, including supporting nerve and muscle function and energy production. Many Americans don’t get enough magnesium in their diets, but eating a few servings of food rich in the crucial nutrient can fulfill your daily need. Foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, milk, yogurt, and leafy greens are good examples.

But some people choose to take a magnesium supplement instead, and they might be unknowingly putting themselves at risk.

High doses of magnesium from supplements can cause unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea, per Mayo Clinic. The supplements can also interact with certain antibiotics or other medications.

According to Harvard Medical School, magnesium supplements are sometimes marketed as “super pills” that claim to fix a litany of health problems, like low energy, insomnia, or muscle tension. But, there isn’t any evidence to support these claims.

The products might not ‘live up to their claims,’ attorneys say

Attorneys with Top Class Actions are examining whether Qunol Extra Strength Magnesium and Equate Magnesium supplements “live up to their claims.”

“Qunol claims on its label that it promotes nerve, bone, muscle, and heart health. In tiny wording at the bottom of the label, it reveals those statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Qunol claims, unlike other magnesium products, to have high absorption, 100% daily value and ‘extra strength,'” per the attorneys.

The product under Walmart’s Equate brand says on its label that it provides “comfortable relief of occasional constipation,” which has also not been evaluated by the FDA, the attorneys noted.

Sources: Top Class Actions | The Sun