The Feb. 9, 2026 New York Times article by Alice Callahan, “Do You Need These Popular Supplements?,” presents a familiar and increasingly common — although grossly inaccurate — narrative: that most dietary supplements are unnecessary for the general population and that consumers would be better served by relying almost exclusively on whole foods.
While the article appropriately acknowledges that supplements can be useful in certain circumstances — such as pregnancy or diagnosed nutrient deficiencies — its overall framing understates both the scale of nutrient inadequacy in the United States and the legitimate, evidence-based role supplements play in supporting public health.
CRN agrees that dietary supplements are not intended to replace a healthy diet. However, portraying supplements primarily as redundant, risky, or driven only by social media influence oversimplifies a far more nuanced scientific and nutritional reality.
Supplements Address Widespread, Documented Nutrient Shortfalls
Federal nutrition surveillance data, including the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and policy documents such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, consistently show that millions of Americans fail to meet recommended intakes for key nutrients through food alone.
Common shortfall nutrients include:
• Vitamin D
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Fiber
• Potassium
• Vitamin B12 (particularly among older adults)
Notably, the article itself cites that approximately half of U.S. adults do not consume adequate magnesium, yet still emphasizes food-first strategies without fully acknowledging that persistent gaps remain despite longstanding dietary guidance. In these cases, supplements are not merely optional “insurance,” but a practical, science-backed means of helping individuals meet established nutritional recommendations.
Food-First Is an Ideal — Not Always a Reality
CRN agrees that whole foods provide important benefits beyond isolated nutrients. However, decades of public health messaging encouraging Americans to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish have not eliminated nutrient inadequacies. In fact, intake data show that the vast majority of Americans still fall short on one or more essential nutrients. Getting these essential nutrients through supplements and fortification are better than not getting them at all.
Supplements Are Regulated and Widely Used Safely
The article raises concerns about contamination, excess intake, and interactions, but does not reflect the existing regulatory framework governing dietary supplements in the U.S. All supplement manufacturers are required to operate under FDA-enforced current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), which necessitate identity testing, purity standards, and quality controls.
Moreover, the vast majority of Americans who use supplements do so safely and responsibly, often following label directions or healthcare provider advice. Risk, where it exists, is best addressed through education and transparency, not broad dismissal of an entire category.
A More Balanced Message Serves Consumers Best
CRN believes consumers deserve nuanced, evidence-based information that reflects real-world nutritional challenges. Positioning supplements as largely unnecessary risks discouraging appropriate use among the majority of Americans who do not meet adequate intake for one or more essential nutrients. This is particularly concerning for older adults, women of childbearing age, and adolescents, populations the Dietary Guidelines for Americans specifically identify as vulnerable to nutrient shortfalls.
The question is not whether Americans should choose food or supplements, but how both can responsibly work together to support health.
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The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 180+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Follow us on X @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn