Dietary supplements sold for weight loss are widely available to consumers of all ages without restriction, yet they can often be dangerous, and are commonly found to be laced with banned pharmaceuticals, excessive stimulants, and liver toxins. Weight-loss dietary supplements have been linked to serious health risks, including heart attack, organ failure, stroke, and even death, but little progress has been made to better regulate these dangerous products to protect consumers. Taxation can be a favorable public health strategy to reduce use of harmful consumer products, especially by youth consumers, and protect the health and wellbeing of consumers of all ages. Our model legislation, “An Act promulgating an excise tax on the sale of dietary supplements sold for weight loss,” would add a 20% excise tax on dietary supplements sold for weight loss with the goal of reducing consumer use of these dangerous products.
Below you will find important materials to help you bring this important advocacy effort to
your state and community:
