US Department of Justice Goes After Supplements

[HuckleB]

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/us-department-of-justice-goes-after-supplements/

"It is shaping up to be a good year for those of us advocating more effective regulation of supplements and unproven therapies in the US. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing its regulation of homeopathy, and recently also announced it is taking public comment on its regulation of the term “natural.” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is also reviewing the claims made by the homeopathy industry, and even gave a nudge to the FDA to fix its regulation.

Now the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is getting in on the fun:

USPlabs, which sold the best-selling workout supplement Jack3d, and six of its executives face criminal charges for the unlawful sale of nutritional supplements, the U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday in announcing a larger probe by federal agencies aimed at stemming the sale of unproven products.

This action by the DOJ raises the stakes to a new level – criminal charges. While the FDA and FTC do the best they can, they often lack teeth when it comes to supplements. The FDA might issue a polite request and then escalate to a stern warning when companies step out of line. The FTC can issue fines which amount to little more than a slap on the wrist – the cost of doing business. Both agencies are playing whack-a-mole and losing.

As an aside, homeopathy is different because legally it is regulated as a drug, meaning the FDA has much more regulatory power and could effectively shut down the industry if they wanted. All they have to do is require evidence of efficacy for any homeopathic product and the entire industry would evaporate.

..."



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[msongs]

1. nationwide massive voter suppression? not so much nt

[HuckleB]

2. Two different topics.

[leftofcool]

3. What she is saying is that supplements are oh so important

but massive voter suppression isn't worth the time to go after. I agree with her. Who gives a shit if people are stupid enough to spend their hard earned money on snake oil.

[HuckleB]

4. I do.

Again, they're two different topics. One topic does not make the other one invalid.

[BuddhaGirl]

15. +1

There are more important issues to focus on.

[undergroundpanther]

5. homeopathy

Homeopathy did nothing for me . Actually I got a bit sicker. You can't get better with minute bits of stuff like snake venoms or plants infused i parts per billions into water banged on a leather bound book put on a sugar pill..Adding all the I want to get better in the world,sometimes it takes real doctors and real medicines an the right therapist trained to deal with your disorders.

[snappyturtle]

6. Interesting that drug companies spend millions trying to synthesize natural plants so they can obtain

the rights to produce. It is also interesting that independent studies of new drugs is virtually non-existent. Homeopathy does work for some people. Sorry it didn't work for you. Frankly, I have gotten sicker on prescription drugs at times. You have to do your research and deal with reputable companies....both homeopathic and allopathic.

edit: to add link

http://www.growyouthful.com/tips/pharmaceuticals-patents.php

[HuckleB]

7. Please don't promote the scam that is homeopathy.

Thank you. And it doesn't help if you utilize marketing propaganda for an outfit that is selling scam products.

http://www.1023.org.uk/why-you-cant-trust-homeopathy.php

[snappyturtle]

9. Get your checkbook out. Sounds like what is being introduced is a path to band 'natural'

supplements. The drug companies would love to help you out with their synthesized versions...also less effective.

[AlbertCat]

10. .also less effective.

Proof?

Molecules are molecules.

Herbals are full of crap that is unnecessary.... even dangerous.

Homeopathy is total bunk.

These 18th century & 19th century remedies made up from guesses are useless. Except maybe as placebo.

What next? Kenobi foot pads?

[HuckleB]

12. Why do you think it's ok to promote "treatments" that don't work?

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2007/nov/16/sciencenews.g2

[Silent3]

13. "Works for some people" vs. "works"

Taking a supposed remedy and then feeling better, seeing symptoms improve, is not the same thing as demonstrating that something "works".

There is the placebo effect. There is coincidental improvement in health -- you have a condition that was going to improve in three days no matter what, but you took drug A on day one, drug B on day two, and drug C on day three, producing an illusion that drug C "works for you".

Only controlled studies and careful statistical analyses, not anecdotes about personal experiences, separate the illusion of an effect from true efficacy. Time and again homeopathy (which should not be confused with the general category of "natural" treatments) has utterly failed to show any actual effect beyond placebo effect.

[Warpy]

8. They need to start by ensuring what's on the label

is actually what's in the bottle. Half the time, it isn't.

[AlbertCat]

11. any homeopathic product and the entire industry would evaporate.

Like water.... badda bing!

[HuckleB]

14. Natural therapies: no clear evidence of health benefits, Australia government review finds

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/natural-therapies-no-clear-evidence-of-health-benefits-government-review-finds-20151116-gl07cp.html