GNC Files for Bankruptcy, Will Close 1,200 Stores Nationwide
GNC Holdings, Inc., announced in June 2020 that it had filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and will close up to a quarter of its stores, according to CNN. The 85-year-old vitamin and dietary supplement company blamed the move on declining sales, nearly $1 billion of debt, and reduced traffic at its brick-and-mortar locations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Which GNC Supplements Have Been Linked to Health Risks?
GNC markets 3 main types of dietary supplements which have been linked to serious side effects in users:
- Workout Supplements
To boost energy levels and performance during exercise, athletes may turn to pre-workout supplements sold by GNC. Many of these products contain dangerous stimulants that increase heart rate and blood pressure, causing acute cardiovascular injuries including irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation), heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, or sudden death. - Weight-Loss Supplements
Many GNC weight-loss pills contain stimulants like ephedra which have been linked to severe cardiovascular injuries and death. In 2009, Hydroxycut was pulled off the U.S. market after at least 23 people developed severe liver problems. - Testosterone
GNC sold dozens of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) products that have been linked to serious side effects including heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, blood clots and death.
GNC Supplement Side Effects
If you or a loved one suffered any of the following injuries after using a GNC supplement, you should contact our class action lawyers to learn more about your legal rights:
- Heart disease / heart attack
- Blood clots
- Stroke
- Kidney failure / renal disease
- Neurological injuries
- Liver damage
- Death
- And more
Class Action Alleges GNC Supplements Deceptively Labeled
A recent class action lawsuit filed in California alleges that FDA warnings are hidden or not present on the labeling of the following GNC supplements:
- GNC Men’s Prostate Formula Dietary Supplement (“Prostate Health”)
- GNC Diabetic Support Dietary Supplement (“Diabetic Support”)
- GNC Preventive Nutrition Healthy Blood Pressure Formula Supplement
- GNC Women’s Ultra Mega Active Supplement
- GNC Mega Men Healthy Testosterone (“Mega Men Performance”)
Lead Plaintiffs Richa Arora, Randy Clinton and Walter Johnston claim that GNC misled, deceived and ultimately profited off consumers by selling supplements with labels that lack a mandatory, prominently displayed disclaimer that reads, “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
GNC Fined $2.5 Million, Settles Allegations of Misbranded Supplements
GNC Holdings Inc. in Dec. 2016 agreed to pay $2.25 million to avoid federal prosecution for allegedly selling supplements that contained hidden drug ingredients, according to Tech Times. By agreeing to the settlement, GNC did not admit any wrongdoing in the case. However, a U.S. Justice Department official said the move was an important step toward reforming practices in the supplement industry.
Do I Have a GNC Supplement Class Action Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in GNC Supplement Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a supplement sold by GNC, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.