50 Percent of Supplements Contain Hidden Animal Byproducts. New Campaign Pushes for Transparency.

Approximately 50% of dietary supplements contain animal-derived ingredients, a new report reveals. Created by the international animal protection organization Animal Save Movement and the vegan supplement brand Terraseed, and supported by a coalition of non-profit animal welfare organizations, this report has a significant impact on animals in the supplement industry, 24 billion. Every year it reveals that more than one animal is being killed for the supplement. It also points out that the disclosure of these animal-derived ingredients lacks transparency.

Since it can be difficult for the average consumer to understand where the ingredients of a supplement come from and how they are made, report authors have to identify the key ones in the supplement industry. We aimed to learn more about (the $ 55 billion worth of industry). Information gaps about our environmental and animal impacts. The report categorizes supplements into vitamins, minerals, and plants, and points out that there are many common supplement ingredients that are often derived from animal by-products. In addition, the authors found that supplement companies usually do not disclose the animal-derived ingredients contained in supplement products or how those ingredients are sourced.

To produce this report, the author conducted extensive research and partnered with industry experts, animal rights groups, and the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Dietary Supplements Department. The author analyzed data from over 79,000 supplement products in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. They found that the five most common supplement ingredients, usually derived from animals, are magnesium stearate and gelatin (made by processing animal by-products from cattle, pigs and sheep). Vitamin D (usually derived from wool); Omega 3 (usually derived from fish); bee pollen and propolis (harvested from bees).

Animal foods for supplements

The authors estimate that more than 24 billion fish and 18 million cows, sheep and pigs are consumed each year to make supplement ingredients for the US market. The report states that this calculation is complicated, but it is an estimate of the share of all slaughtered animals whose by-products are used for rendering and an approximation of the value of the by-product industry sold to complement the enterprise. Based on the share of. In addition, the author’s study found that about 44% of all supplements on the market contain at least one of the two most common animal-derived ingredients (magnesium stearate and gelatin). rice field. However, due to data limitations and product duplication, it is estimated that at least 50% of supplements contain at least one animal-derived ingredient.

In addition to the industry’s contribution to slaughter, the report identifies the industry’s impact on the environment and produces 1.8 billion plastic bottles each year, of which only about 30% are recycled. Is pointed out.

“Many consumers are unaware that common ingredients such as gelatin and magnesium stearate are made from pig, cow and chicken fat, bone and tendons,” said Terraseed and the creation of the Transparent Travel Campaign. Said Maria Sebrian. Veg News. “More than half of the supplements on the US market contain at least one animal-derived ingredient. For example, many capsules and softgels are made of gelatin.”

The report also points out that the majority of animals killed to produce supplements are fish, primarily fish oil production for omega-3 supplements. “Fish are killed in large numbers to produce supplements,” Cebrian said. “It actually takes up to 100 fish to make a bottle of fish oil supplements. If it’s not bad enough, 54 million plastic supplement bottles can also flow into the ocean and damage the marine ecosystem. Give and kill millions of marine animals. “

Lack of transparency in the supplement industry

This report is part of a Transparent Label campaign led by support organizations including Terraseed, Animal Save Movement, and BeVeg, Social Compassion in Legislation, Seed (Strategies for Ethical and Environmental Development), Naturally Boulder, and more. The campaign requires the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include a section on the “Supplement Fact Label” section of supplement products that clearly indicates whether the product contains animal-derived ingredients.

Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and ingredients are prohibited from selling false brands or misleading products. However, according to campaign information, research shows that FDA testing of supplement facilities is minimal and there are no vitamin label procurement requirements, so consumers have no way of knowing everything they need to make their purchased supplements. For example, if a supplement states that it contains a “unique blend,” this means that it may contain animal foods, fillers, or potentially dangerous ingredients. increase.

“To stop animal suffering in the supplement industry, all major players need to be responsible: supplement companies, the FDA, and consumers,” says Cebrian. “We all need to work together to bring transparency to the old-fashioned opaque industry and start talking about our responsibilities to this planet and its animals.”

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Nicole Axworthy is a news editor and cookbook author for VegNews. DIY vegan..