Gov. Newsom blocks teen access to harmful supplements

Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed historic public health legislation banning the sale of certain over-the-counter supplements to minors, showing how states continue to lead the way on public health policy to protect consumers from unsafe products and provide access to healthy choices. 

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is particularly pleased that California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB-2030, a bill cosponsored by CSPI, which bans the sale of weight-loss and muscle-building supplements to children and teens. We thank Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal for authoring this important legislation and championing the health of California’s kids.  

Manufacturers of these products often prey on kids and teens with deceptive claims that lack any scientific evidence. Some of the ingredients used in these supplements are far from harmless with risks including liver damage, hospitalization, and death. California now joins the state of New York, which similarly banned such supplement sales to minors in 2023.  

Today’s actions also highlight the inaction at the federal level. As states continue to move on these issues, the FDA has not only failed to protect children from harmful supplements; it has also not proposed rules to require premarket approval for food substances considered “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS; released a proposed definition of “ultra-processed foods;” or required front-of-packet nutrient warnings for foods high in sodium, saturated fat, or added sugars.  

With today’s action in California, attention now turns to New York state, where Governor Hochul waits on another historic package that will require transparency for GRAS substances, create on-menu warnings for sodium, and implement other critical food system reforms.