Senators Call out Pharmacy For Potentially Promoting Supplements Over FDA-Approved Products
US Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called upon pharmacy retailer Rite Aid for "potentially deceptive marketing practices […] that could mislead consumers seeking medical advice and direct customers to treat health conditions with dietary supplements."
The Senators expressed their concerns in light of accounts that the company has "wellness stations" situated near pharmacy counters which sport consultants donning white jackets that are reportedly similar to those worn by the pharmacists.
"[B]ecause "wellness ambassadors" field questions from Rite Aid customers about treatments for symptoms and health conditions, Durbin and Blumenthal are concerned that they could be making false and misleading claims by marketing or directing customers to purchase dietary supplements as treatments for health conditions" in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act, wrote Durbin and Blumenthal in their statement.
Rite Aid did not have a statement in response to the letter available at the time of publication.
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DURBIN, BLUMENTHAL QUESTION POTENTIALLY DECEPTIVE MARKETING AT RITE AID