In a political climate where national security is constantly under scrutiny, a new concern is gaining traction: the presence of GNC stores—owned by a Chinese state-linked company—on dozens of U.S. military bases.
Congressman Pat Harrigan is now leading the charge to investigate whether GNC has been misleading the public and government about where its products really come from.
Patriotism or Food Fraud? The GNC Ingredient Controversy
Harrigan, a Republican from North Carolina, is questioning GNC’s claims that 96% of its health supplements are made in the United States.
According to a letter he sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, nearly 90% of GNC’s private-label ingredients are actually sourced from China—one of America’s most significant global adversaries.
This discrepancy, Harrigan argues, could amount to “food fraud”, especially dangerous given that GNC is operating on around 85 U.S. military bases.
He believes that a company with deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should not have access to American service members and their personal data.
A History of Red Flags and Regulatory Trouble
Harrigan didn’t stop at ingredient sourcing.
He reminded officials that GNC paid a $2.25 million fine back in 2016 after selling supplements that contained unapproved ingredients.
That history, paired with current concerns, forms the basis of his push for a criminal investigation into the company’s labeling practices and foreign ties.
GNC Pushes Back, Emphasizes U.S.-Based Manufacturing
GNC, for its part, is defending its reputation. Nick Sero, the company’s PR Director, insists that none of their branded products are made in China.
He acknowledges that GNC does source ingredients globally, but stresses that everything is rigorously tested in the U.S. before being used in production.
He also points to over $250 million in investments across more than ten U.S. states—highlighting manufacturing partnerships in Georgia, California, Virginia, and beyond.
“We welcome transparency,” said Sero, emphasizing the company’s willingness to cooperate with Congress and the FDA.
Why National Security Is Part of the Debate
The real concern for Harrigan and others goes beyond product labels—it’s about security risks on military bases.
GNC was bought out of bankruptcy in 2020 by Harbin Pharmaceutical Group, a Chinese state-owned company with reported ties to the CCP.
That foreign ownership, combined with the location of the stores inside restricted military zones, has raised serious red flags.
In fact, Harrigan says this setup could expose military personnel’s personal data to Chinese intelligence and believes the presence of these stores creates a national security vulnerability that should never have been allowed in the first place.
Evidence Points to Chinese Supply Chain Dominance
A third-party investigation by Exiger, a risk management firm, confirmed that most GNC ingredient shipments—over 88%—come from China.
Many of them entered the U.S. through the port of Charleston, South Carolina, destined for facilities in Greenville and Anderson, where GNC’s manufacturing partner, IVC, processes supplements.
The same analysis noted that the CCP’s influence over global supply chains and even control over seaports in Latin America and the Caribbean could give Beijing a surveillance advantage over U.S. operations—including the potential to monitor military logistics or restrict critical resources.
What Harrigan Wants to Happen Next
In addition to calling for a criminal investigation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Harrigan is asking for a full audit of GNC’s ingredient sources.
His end goal is clear: ban all Chinese-owned retailers from operating on U.S. military installations.
His proposed legislation, the Military Installation Retail Security Act, would enforce exactly that.
Transparency and Accountability at the Core
As Harrigan puts it in his letter: “Americans deserve transparency and safety in the products they consume—especially our service members.”
He believes GNC’s operations are a national security risk wrapped in a wellness brand, and he’s determined to make sure that risk is not overlooked.
The FDA and DHS are now being called upon to investigate, and the outcome could reshape how foreign-owned companies are allowed to operate within sensitive U.S. infrastructure—especially where military personnel are involved.