USANA's GMP claim, Price Comparison, and the Insignificant R&D spending

USANA uses their "voluntary Pharmaceutical GMP" claim as a major advertising pitch. While they have no organization or agency in the U.S. testing USANA for pharmaceutical GMP, they do claim that the Australian TGA is equivalent to the FDA's Pharmaceutical GMP standards. Proof of this claim comes from USANA's website which states "In several countries around the world, supplements are more highly regulated than in the United States. In Australia, for example, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which regulates dietary supplements, mandates that manufacturers follow a set of GMP identical to pharmaceutical GMP in the United States." - http://www.usana.com/dotCom/company/manufacturing/index

However, Wyeth (Centrum), Bayer (One A Day), Herbalife, Melaleuca, Amway, and many other companies are also sold in Australia under Medicinal Products just like USANA is (see this link). Therefore, according to USANA's own words, these companies are all voluntarily manufacturing their supplements according to pharmaceutical GMPs.

One of the excuses USANA distributors give for USANA's high prices is because they voluntarily meet Pharmaceutical GMPs (which is supposed to make their product superior to other brands).

A quick price comparison of USANA's "Essentials" multivitamin-multimineral supplement reveals the following.

USANA Essentials at $39.95 for a 28 day supply is:
- 2 times as expensive as Herbalife's "Multivitamin Complex"
- 2 times as expensive as Melaleuca's "Vitality Pack Muli-vitamin/mineral"
- 11 times as expensive as Amway's "Nutrilite Daily Free" (IRON FREE)
- 14 times as expensive as Wyeth's "Centrum Silver" (IRON FREE)
- 15 times as expensive as Bayer's "One a day (mens)" (IRON FREE)


USANA distributors have continously bashed vitamin manufacturers that add IRON into their dietary supplements. However, it should be pointed out that the most popular dietary supplement companies do in fact make an Iron-Free multi vitamin/mineral product for those who may have hemochromatosis. However, ALL of USANA's dietary supplement products are Iron-Free. It should be noted that less than one half of a percent (<0.5%) of people in the United States are affected by this hemochromatosis genetic disorder.

See the following link regarding Iron. This is a quote from the website: "The World Health Organization considers iron deficiency the number one nutritional disorder in the world [33]. As many as 80% of the world's population may be iron deficient, while 30% may have iron deficiency anemia [34]."

So how does USANA help the 80% of the world's population that may be iron deficient? This is what USANA has to say about it.

"If you have been diagnosed with an iron deficiency, dietary sources of iron should be increased and an iron supplement may be necessary. The best sources of dietary iron are meat, fish, and poultry (the darker the meat the higher the iron). Fortified grains and cereal products are also good sources.

Since USANA does not provide an iron supplement, ask your doctor or pharmacist for a recommendation on a brand and dosage." - USANA Health Sciences, Inc.

Interesting enough, USANA's answer is to shop elsewhere. In otherwords, USANA supplements do not provide for at least 80% of the world's population.


Not only that, but USANA spends practically nothing on Scientific Research and Development. Less than 1% of their net revenues goes towards R&D. In other words, the amount USANA spends on R&D is "insignificant". One can only wonder how Myron Wentz can keep a straight face when he says "I want you to be aware of the very serious commitment we have to research and development." - Myron Wentz http://www.usana.com/dotCom/company/science/index