Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of dietary supplements?

Dietary supplements encompass a variety of products designed to provide nutrients that may be missing from a person's diet. They can include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, and various other substances. A primary characteristic of dietary supplements is that they are classified as food rather than drugs, and because of this categorization, they do not require the same rigorous pre-market approval by the FDA that pharmaceuticals do. This means that manufacturers can market their products without needing to demonstrate their safety and efficacy prior to sale, distinguishing them from medications that must go through a lengthy approval process.

On the other hand, dietary supplements may include a wide range of products, including amino acids and herbal products, both of which are common ingredients found in many dietary supplements. Additionally, the classification of these supplements as food means they are regulated under a different set of guidelines than pharmaceuticals, which allows for more flexibility in their production and marketing.

Therefore, the assertion that dietary supplements require FDA approval prior to sale is not accurate, making it the correct answer to the question regarding which statement is NOT a characteristic of dietary supplements.