Washington, D.C., and Long Island, NY—The United States filed a civil complaint to stop Confidence USA Inc., company president Helen Chian, and company manager Jim Chao from marketing adulterated dietary supplements,according to a press releasefrom the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The complaint alleges that multiple inspections by FDA repeatedly showed that the defendants failed to verify the identity of each ingredient used in their supplements and also failed to verify that their products met specifications for purity, strength, composition, and contamination limits.

The press release says that, according to the complaint, the defendants make and distribute more than 50 dietary supplements under brand names including Confidence USA, American Best, USA Natural, and The Herbal Store.

Assistant attorney general Jody Hunt, of the DOJ’s civil division, said in the release: “Dietary supplement makers put consumers’ health at risk by distributing products without first verifying that those products actually are what they claim to be. The Department of Justice will continue to work with the FDA to make sure that dietary supplement manufacturers meet the legal standards necessary to ensure the quality of such products.”

Melinda Plaisier, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs at FDA, said in the release: “Consumers should be able to expect that the dietary supplements they purchase meet quality standards and contain only what they are supposed to, in the correct amounts. The FDA will continue to take swift action against companies that sell adulterated dietary supplements.”