You’ve probably seen the headlines or maybe just noticed your favorite "research chemical" or specialized gym supplement suddenly went out of stock. Something big is shifting. For years, the supplement aisle felt like the Wild West where almost anything could be bottled and sold under the "dietary supplement" banner. That’s changing fast. The latest FDA supplements crackdown news reveals an agency that has stopped just sending polite letters and started seizing products by the truckload.
The 2025-2026 Regulatory Pivot
Honestly, the FDA used to be kinda toothless when it came to pills and powders. Because of a 1994 law called DSHEA, they basically had to wait for someone to get sick before they could act. But in late 2024 and throughout 2025, the agency underwent a massive internal "reorg," creating the Human Foods Program (HFP). This wasn't just a corporate name change.
The new Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Kyle Diamantas, has been spearheading a more aggressive stance. They are now treating supplements more like food and less like a hands-off category. The most jarring change for many was the elimination of the "de Minimis" import exemption in July 2025. Basically, small packages under $800 used to zip through customs with almost zero oversight. Now? Every single bottle coming from overseas—even your one-off order of "special" pre-workout—is subject to full FDA scrutiny.
The 7-OH and Tianeptine Takedown
If you follow the "gas station supplement" scene, you know things got ugly recently. In December 2025, the FDA coordinated with the U.S. Marshals to seize over $1 million worth of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products. These were tablets and liquid shots being sold as "natural" extracts, but the FDA officially labeled them as potent opioids.
7-OH is a concentrated alkaloid from the kratom plant, but the agency is drawing a hard line: you can't just isolate the most "high-inducing" part of a plant and call it a supplement.
📖 Related: The Human Heart: Why We Get So Much Wrong About How It Works
Then there’s tianeptine, often called "gas station heroin." Throughout 2025, the FDA has been hunting down brands like Neptune’s Fix and Zaza. These products were linked to seizures and hospitalizations across several states. The agency didn't just warn people; they pressured retailers and distributors to scrub these from shelves entirely.
The Salmonella Scare in "Super Greens"
It’s not just the sketchy stuff getting hit. Even the "healthy" brands are under fire. Just this January 2026, a massive recall hit Superfoods Inc. (Live it Up brand) after 45 people across 21 states came down with salmonella.
- The Problem: Original and Wild Berry flavors of Super Greens powder.
- The Timeline: Illnesses were traced back to late 2025.
- The Impact: 12 hospitalizations so far.
This highlights a core part of the FDA supplements crackdown news: the agency is getting much faster at "traceback" investigations. They are using new digital tools to find the source of contamination before it becomes a national tragedy. If you have a tub with an expiration date between August 2026 and January 2028, throw it out. Seriously.
Why Peptides Suddenly Vanished
If you’re into biohacking, you’ve probably noticed BPC-157 and TB-500 are a lot harder to find. In a move that stunned the integrative medicine world, the FDA moved 17 popular peptides into "Category 2."
👉 See also: Ankle Stretches for Runners: What Most People Get Wrong About Mobility
What does that mean in plain English? It means compounding pharmacies—the places that used to mix these for your doctor—are now barred from making them. The FDA's logic is that these substances have a high risk for "immunogenicity" (aka your immune system overreacting) and lack enough human safety data. It’s a huge blow to wellness clinics, and some, like Evexias Medical Group, have even sued the FDA to try and stop the ban. For now, though, the "peptide era" is officially in the shadows.
The "Catch-Up" Rule for New Ingredients
For years, companies ignored a rule saying they had to notify the FDA before launching a "New Dietary Ingredient" (NDI). They just assumed if no one died, they were fine.
Well, the FDA is done with that. They recently released a "Catch-up" guidance. It’s basically an amnesty period: "Tell us what’s in your products now, or we’re coming for you." They’ve already flagged substances like 7-OH and tianeptine as not being dietary ingredients at all.
Common Red Flags to Watch For
- Undeclared Drugs: Recalls in late 2024 and 2025 found diclofenac (an anti-inflammatory) and sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) hidden in "all-natural" joint and male enhancement pills.
- Toxic Plants: Several brands of "Tejocote" supplements were found to actually contain yellow oleander, a poisonous plant that can cause heart failure.
- Hidden "Research Chemicals": If a label says "not for human consumption" but it's shaped like a pill, the FDA is now legally allowed to treat it as a misbranded drug.
What You Should Do Now
Don't panic and throw away your multivitamin. The crackdown is mostly targeting the "fringe"—the stuff that makes big claims or uses "novel" chemicals.
✨ Don't miss: Can DayQuil Be Taken At Night: What Happens If You Skip NyQuil
Check your labels for the DSHEA disclaimer. It’s that little box that says the FDA hasn't evaluated the claims. Interestingly, the FDA is actually considering loosening some label rules to reduce "clutter," only requiring the disclaimer once per bottle instead of next to every single claim. Some experts, like Dr. Pieter Cohen from Harvard, think this is a bad move because it makes the warnings less obvious.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Search the FDA Ingredient Directory: Before buying a new "performance" supplement, check the official FDA "Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List." If it's on there, stay away.
- Verify the Manufacturer: Stick to brands that use Third-Party Testing (like NSF or USP). These companies are less likely to be hit by the crackdown because they’re already following the rules.
- Check the "Green" Recalls: If you use a greens powder or a "superfood" blend, double-check your lot numbers against the January 2026 salmonella alerts.
- Avoid "Gas Station" Brands: If you can buy a "nootropic" or "energy booster" at a gas station next to the jerky, it’s a prime target for the next seizure.
The supplement market is becoming safer, but it's also becoming smaller. The days of "anything goes" are over.