Independent testing by the U.S. Government Accountability Office has revealed that two of three leading dietary supplements marketed as memory boosters are falsely labeled. While these products claim to contain high levels of ginkgo biloba, an herbal extract from the leaves of the ginkgo tree that is advertised as improving mental sharpness and clarity, the GAO’s test showed that the actual products contain much less of the extract than labeled, or even none at all. Instead, the products appear to have used other, unknown ingredients in place of the natural ginkgo biloba they promised.
While studies have disputed the effectiveness of ginkgo biloba in improving memory, what is not in dispute is that consumers have the legally protected right to know what ingredients are being put in the products they purchase and consume. Customers rely on the representations made by these dietary supplement companies to make informed decisions about their purchases and their health care. False advertising, like that reported by the GAO, is both harmful and illegal.
The attorneys of Finkelstein, Blankinship, Frei-Pearson and Garber are currently investigating leading dietary supplement brands sold nationwide, to determine which have been falsely advertising their products. If you or someone you know purchased dietary supplements that claim to contain ginkgo biloba, please contact FBFG to discuss your legal rights.