The Impact of Warnings, Disclaimers, and Product Experience on Consumers’ Perceptions of Dietary Supplements

Abstract

Two experiments explored the impact of disclosures (warning and disclaimer) and product experience (heavy, light, and nonusers) on consumers’ perceptions of dietary supplements. In general, the government‐mandated disclaimer did not impact consumers’ beliefs about either the efficacy or the safety of dietary supplements; for most consumers, the disclaimer is unlikely to achieve its intended results. However, when product experience was examined, analyses show that heavy product users responded differently to the disclosures than did light product users and nonusers. Results point to the importance of understanding the influence of individual differences on the interpretation of product disclosures by specific consumer segments.