A Member of the European Parliament has asked the European Commission to investigate whether Meta and Google are breaching the Digital Services Act by running advertisements for unregulated, potentially dangerous nutraceutical products. The written question, submitted on 6 May 2026, targets the platforms' role in promoting supplements and herbal remedies that may not meet EU safety or labelling standards, putting consumers at risk of misleading health claims or harmful ingredients.
The MEP's question focuses on the DSA's obligations for very large online platforms to assess and mitigate systemic risks, including those to public health. It asks whether the Commission has identified such ads on Meta and Google, and what enforcement steps it plans to take. The query also presses for clarity on how the DSA's risk assessment framework applies to nutraceutical advertising, which often falls into a regulatory grey zone between food and medicinal products.
Policy direction and ambition The question signals a push for stronger platform accountability in the health-adjacent sector. By linking nutraceutical ads to the DSA's systemic risk provisions, the MEP seeks to extend the regulation's reach beyond traditional illegal content to products that may be legal but poorly supervised. The tone is precautionary: the MEP implies that current self-regulation by platforms is insufficient and that the Commission should use its DSA enforcement powers proactively.
Concrete asks and expected follow-up The question does not set numerical targets or deadlines but requests a detailed written response from the Commission. Under Parliament rules, the Commission typically replies within six weeks. The answer will indicate whether the Commission views nutraceutical ads as a priority under the DSA, and whether it plans to issue guidance or open formal proceedings against Meta or Google. A cautious reply would signal reliance on national authorities; a more assertive one could foreshadow new DSA enforcement actions in the health space.
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