Changing Consumer Perception of Made in China

Years of health scares and negative media attention have left some consumers balking at products made in China, a conundrum for dietary supplement manufacturers doing business in the country.

A. Elizabeth Sloan, president of Sloan Trends Inc., said Chinese ingredients have one of the worst reputations among consumers. “It’s a big concern," she said. “There’s no two ways about it."

Consumers may not be able to pinpoint their concerns, but “they have this perception of all these bad things that are happening," Sloan said. “If you start to look at the different countries, you’ll see that China is on the top of the avoid list."

There are manufacturers meeting stringent quality standards, but they get lumped in with companies that aren’t, she said.

“I’m sure a lot of it is well managed and legitimate, but it’s suffering from an image problem," she said.

Suzanne Shelton of Shelton Group said sourcing only based on price introduced bad practices and shoddy ingredients. Now, even the most upstanding companies must battle the fears of consumers wary of products sourced and manufactured in China.

Regardless, dietary supplement manufacturers can take certain steps to change perception with quality, China-sourced ingredients.

Learn more about the intricacies of country of origin labeling and marketing tips for Chinese ingredients in the “Marketing ‘Made in China’" Digital Pulse.

Allie Seligman is a freelance writer based in New York with extensive experience in the health and fitness industry. The Phoenix native manages a CrossFit gym in Manhattan.