Ripon Advance: Harrigan urges federal investigation into Chinese-controlled GNC Holdings

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) on April 17 called on the U.S. Attorney General to investigate GNC Holdings LLC, following reports that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-linked company may have lied on federal filings and is operating more than 80 stores on U.S. military installations.

“The CCP has zero business being anywhere near our troops,” Rep. Harrigan said in a statement. “GNC lied about its ownership, embedded itself in our military communities, and may be funneling sensitive data straight to Beijing. It’s a national security threat and it needs to be shut down.”

In 2020, GNC was acquired by Harbin Pharmaceutical Group, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, though GNC certified in federal filings that it had no parent company — potentially violating federal law, according to the congressman’s statement.

The company also has access to personal health data through loyalty programs and consultations offered on-base, raising national security concerns about exposure of sensitive military information to Chinese intelligence, the statement says.

Rep. Harrigan is urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate potential criminal violations and assess the national security implications of allowing a CCP-controlled company to operate on U.S. military installations.