GNC to Stop Selling Ephedra Products

General Nutrition Cos., the largest U.S. chain of vitamin stores, plans to stop selling products containing ephedra, an herb used for weight loss that has been linked to heart and stomach problems.

Any unsold supply will be removed from stores by the end of June, GNC said. Royal Numico, the Netherlands-based parent of GNC and vitamin maker Rexall Sundown, said it has set aside $18 million to write off leftover inventory.