Big Pharma gobbling up vitamin makers

Steve  and Bonnie: After Proctor & Gamble's recent purchase of vitamin maker New Chapter, Germany's Bayer is set to buy U.S. vitamin maker Schiff Nutrition International for $1.2 billion. What does this mean? It depends on who you speak with. Some say Big Pharma is seeking stable sources of growth to complement its more volatile prescription drugs business. We say that Big Pharma is positioning itself to take advantage of more stringent supplement legislation if it ever comes to pass. Big Pharma railroaded draconian EU legislation which severely limits what supplements Europeans now have access to (many of the low dose brands allowed are owned by Big Pharma). If they can accomplish similar legislation in the U.S., it will allow Big Pharma to monopolize vitamins brands and push more meds.