A Judicial ‘Supplement’ to Advertising Law: The Fourth Circuit’s GNC Decision and Policy Implications for the Dietary Supplement Industry By Gia Wakil* Download a PDF version of this article here Introduction I. The Legal Landscape of the Supplement Industry A. Sources of Truth-in-Advertising Law B. The FTC-FDA Regulatory Regime 1.FTC Regulation of Supplement Advertising 2. FDA Regulation of Supplement Labeling C. The Lanham Act 1.Two Modes of False Advertising i. Literal Falsity ii. Literal Falsity by Necessary Implication 2. Misleading Advertising D. State Consumer Protection Statutes II. The GNC Case and the Glucosamine-Chondroitin Problem A. Factual Background B. The Complaint C. Decision Granting Motion to Dismiss D. Plaintiffs’ Appeal III. Legal and Policy Considerations A. Law Professors’ Amicus Brief, with Rebuttal 1.Inaccurate Legal Standards 2.Misstatement of Precedent 3.The Nature of Scientific Evidence 4.Jury Instructions B. Additional Merits of the Fourth Circuit’s Decision 1.FTC, FDA, and Fourth Circuit Parity 2.Fair Competition and Consumer Choice 3.Res Judicata Effects Conclusion Continue reading →
