Study: Most Army base supplements lack Pentagon certification

A recent Military Medicine study examined dietary supplements sold at two Army installations and found that only about 1 in 10 products carried third-party certification as recommended by the Pentagon. The research highlights a potential gap between what service members purchase at base exchanges and the safety and quality standards the Defense Department endorses.

Service members often buy supplements without verifying whether the products meet Pentagon safety standards, contain banned substances, or accurately represent their ingredients. The findings suggest that most supplements available at these Army bases may not have undergone the independent testing needed to confirm they are safe, effective, or correctly labeled.