Bill Targets GNC and Foreign-Owned Stores on U.S. Military Installations

A retired Green Beret turned lawmaker wants to ban GNC and other foreign-owned supplement companies from U.S. military facilities, claiming national security concerns.

Representative Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., presented the Military Installation Retail Security Act, which bans retail activities on military facilities by Chinese, Russian, North Korean, or Iranian enterprises. The move targets GNC's 75 U.S.-based stores.

Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Co., a Chinese company, bought GNC out of bankruptcy in 2020. With over 2,300 domestic and 1,300 overseas outlets, GNC remains popular in the U.S. despite the ownership shift.

Harrigan said on X (previously Twitter) that Chinese control endangers U.S. military forces, particularly Green Berets and Navy SEALs. Service members' data may be used, he said.

“We owe it to our servicemen and women to protect them from the moment they step onto base,” Harrigan added. “That means locking down their data, cutting off foreign influence, and excluding adversaries who shouldn't have been on our military bases.”

The bill follows an investigation of foreign investments near U.S. military stations, including a bitcoin mining operation near a nuclear base and an agriculture complex near Grand Forks Air Force Base.

GNC defended its practices and said consumer data is protected in response to Harrigan. “We are governed by strict U.S. security protocols,” said GNC spokesperson Nick Sero. “Customer data is protected by Department of Defense-approved third-party controls, and our parent company cannot access it.”

The U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment identified no national security issues with GNC's acquisition in 2018.

According to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, GNC could close within six months if the law passes. “In the event of a national security directive to close these stores, AAFES would exercise 180-day notice,” said spokesperson Chris Ward.

Service members take many supplements. Research by the Army Public Health Center indicated that military personnel utilize such products more than civilians. Congress considered adding creatine to MREs in 2024, and the Department of Defense mandates supplement safety training for personnel.

GNC, a popular shop, has long-term relationships with military exchange systems AAFES, NEXCOM, and MCX that don't require foreign ownership transparency. Harrigan's bill would require on-base shops to disclose more reviews and disclosures.

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