Ellen said:

PLEASE EVERYONE! Dont let this happen! I would have signed the form but I am a European, not an American. They try to do this here as well - but LET US CHOOSE FOR OURSELVES!

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 03:51 PM

Gerald said:

Thanks John,
for giving us an easy way to reply to this CODEX problem!
Gerald Ross, PhD.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 04:09 PM

David said:

I state this opinion… I’m european as well, but this is a scary evolution….

I’ve informed myself and apparently in europe there is a directive saying that these supplements do NOT fall under a doctor’s control…

But still there will be some side-effects… it’s not only the annoying doctor’s visit, but i can imagine that you would feel that financially as well…. and so will we, since most people I know generally order ‘US-made’ supplements

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 04:16 PM

gabe brolly said:

This is policing of the masses and fascism at its most potent, I too am european and I know we are next if this goes through in your country, please people take a stand against this blatant pharmaceutical opportunism, and by the way please dont vote for Bush again, you can enjoy your God given freedoms without him in office and just maybe the world would be a better and safer place as well. Peace.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 04:21 PM

Diane said:

Thanks for the heads-up Jon, but being Canadian I don’t have access to vote. Nevertheless I’m sure being neighbours that something of this nature may come our way in the future - will be keeping an eye out.

Scary stuff - all about control and money!

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 04:23 PM

Karen said:

NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE FREEDOM AWAY FROM THE CONSUMERS OF NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS - GOD GIVES US FREE CHOICE! AND THAT IS MY ARGUMENT!!!

I realize governments like us to believe we live in a democracy. IF this is TRUE, freedom to make HEALTHY choices need not be taken away, but encouraged.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 04:29 PM

david said:

Hey John,

just for the record, being european doesn’t necessarily mean being a UK resident :D

but i do agree on your point that most doctor’s don’t know jack s*** about supplementation…. In Belgium my parents’ doctor subscribes them antiobiotics to cure a simple cold, go figure… :)

Do you happen do have many Sicilians in this FDA, since this kind of feels very ‘mobby’ to me…..

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 04:42 PM

Roy Prevost said:

Please everyone get on board here!

I am canadian however, the tentacles of Big Pharma are ever present in Canada and it is only a matter of time before we are sucked into this treachery.
Do not let this happen!!

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 04:45 PM

Kim said:

While “they” are distracting us with war support and foolish political standings, multiple elections, poverty, disease, anxiety, terrorist fears, and on and on: they are actually taking away our rights to grow our own food, drink water breath clean air, make sound decisions and so on. I have to ask the radical question- who is running this planet? All the money in the world will not save even the richest man’s daughters and sons from planetary ruin! I am sick in my soul from what seems to be happening and it seems to go beyond money. Why do people want this earth to die? What benefit is that to big money corporations? How does this do good for even the wealthiest families? Big brother seems to have snuck up on us all! Is big brother human? Does he not need vitamin C to live? We need world wide unity to beat this - what I see as a true evilness!
Stand strong, Much empathy to you folks, from your Canadian Neighbor

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 04:57 PM

Kim said:

This is an outrage!! John, you have and continue to provide the most interesting and informative information regarding health. This is an issue that cannot be ignored. I forwarded your email to many friends and family, and then went to the site to send my letter. Unfortunately, I get an error message after completing the form and clicking on the “Send my Message” button [http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/processEditValues.jsp; The page cannot be found]; perhaps (and I hope) the site is overloaded with responses from others … do you (John) or anyone else know anything about this send error? Thanks

Stay healthy, Kim

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 04:59 PM

Mary Davern said:

Hi Jon,

The big Pharmas have been trying to take over our Health Choices for
a long time already, and we MUST fight them at every corner before
they decide they want to abolish our freedoms completely!!

I too am Canadian, but I signed the letter anyhow - they must learn that people all over the world DO care about our FREEDOMS and about Democracy!!

Thanks Jon for bringing this important info.to us!!
We know you care!!

GM Mary

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:06 PM

Donna said:

I’ve signed the petition and forwarded to everyone I know. I’m in Canada too but we adopt a lot of things from the States and don’t want this to happen here too. Plus it shouldn’t happen in the US either, don’t want our neighbor to lose their choices. Hippocrates said “DO NO HARM” and the doctors sure aren’t listening. They want the rights to do all these things but without the knowledge. Up here in Canada I work in a health food store and see a naturopath who I trust with my life. I don’t want to lose my job or my health practioner. Every day at the store I hear horror stories about the medical profession. What the FDA wants to do will only make those stories worse. Plus think of all the people they will put out of business and all the underground business that will go on. I will not be forced into seeing an MD and hope that the people in the US are not either. Money seems to run the world these days.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:07 PM

On the fence said:

I am on the fence here, do I want to go to the doctor to get a prescription for vitamins? NO! Do I want the supplements I purchase without a prescription to be high quality and contain EXACTLY what it says on the bottle? YES! I can’t help but feel we are at this point because of all the SCAM artists willing to say anything about a “miracle” product to make a buck. The fat burning products are a perfect example. If just one of them worked there would not be an over weight person on this earth. The industry markets them like they are a miracle cure without anyone holding their feet to the fire on proof they work and harmful side effects you may encounter, what does the label say…see your doctor. Each person has a right to choose what they take as far as supplements go. I do not think we should have to get a perscription yet some regulation of the supplement industry is definately called for.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:12 PM

Jeannett Davis said:

Jon, A fellow American here.

Here are some frightning facts:

The total number of deaths caused by conventional medicine is an astounding 783,936 per year!

The American medical system is the leading cause of death and injury in the U.S.

Anyone interested should read “Death by Medicine”, a fully documented and referenced paper. You can read it online at:

http://www.vitalcarbs4life.com/images/Death_by_Medicine1.pdf

Yes, I am adding my voice to protest!!!

Yours in wellness

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:25 PM

Sylvia Frain said:

Hi Jon,

You’re not the first to send me this - many Hypnosis and NLP organizations are also asking for this help on behalf of alternate and complimentary health/wellness options.

I am Canadian so I could say this doesn’t really affect me - but it does. It will affect us all.

Once one government ( and one as big as the U.S.) decides to encroach some more on “my choice”, too many other governments will follow suit.

And that’s what its about - our choice - yours and mine. To use my brain. To make my decisions. To have, and to access, my own “wellness” options.

Doctors are great, hospitals are great, but they are not the final answer in many cases. Let them do their work and let the wellness industry do theirs. And, yes, there are a lot of charlatans around in every industry and profession but surely that shouldn’t be set as a barrier to the good ones.

And frankly I would trust someone selling a vitamin pill at my local health food store before I’d trust a Pharma executive !

Best of luck to you all in making your voices heard,

Sylvia

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:33 PM

Denis said:

You can’t sell Vitamin C right now with a claim that it will cure your flu. You can however, sell vitamin C as a vitamin C without making any claims, thus by passing any FDA regulations. They already have a regulation in place that prevents you from selling drugs. If you claim that your supplement combats some problem it gets classified as a drug in which case you must now get FDA approval.

If you sell Fruit Juice for well being AND part of treating someone for a desease than new regulation will prohibit that. If you sell fruit juice for the reasons of selling fruit juice than regulation doesn’t apply to you.

If they push this through it will however make it much more difficult to sell supplements if you’re making any claims. If you make no claims, they have no regulation that will prevent you from doing what you’re doing YET.

Point is, if they make it work, switch gears and stop selling desease preventing supplements and start selling vitamins, potential benefits must now be yanked from marketing and any claims that this vitamin is more than just a vitamin will no longer be legal.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:33 PM

Bill Lux said:

Jon,

Ok, add another US citizen to the list who went and put in 2-cents worth. Which is probably what it’s worth to bureaucrats.

This is scary sh-t. I wonder if Whole Foods can stay in business.

Now you know why I’m a Libertarian and getting more hard-core by the day.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:37 PM

Stevie said:

Jon, I signed the page and forwarded the info to a friend with a large list. Hope that helps. Warm regards, Stevie

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:39 PM

Kevin said:

It won’t be so bad in Canada. Big Brother will only make us register our juicers. We’ll have to be more careful of importing the illegal oranges from the States if they contain the drug vitamin C. What a mess!

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:42 PM

Denis said:

Forget Vitamin C. I can’t order pizza anymore due to the cheese content. Cheese contains calcium which is good for my bones and teeth, I can’t even begin to list all the deseases that it could prevent.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:45 PM

Ian B said:

Here in Australia, we have the end result… a system being copied around the world (including in Canada) as the “Gold Standard”. In that system, well intentioned bureaucrats preside over a regime that imposes restrictions on what ingredients can be used in a supplement, and what can be said about what that supplement does.

Sounds noble, yes? You shouldn’t just be able to stick any ingredient into a pill, call it “food” and let people pop it into their mouths. The ingredient might be poison. You shouldn’t be able to claim that it will cure everything from aids and cancer to gout and boils. That’s no better than an old fashioned snake oil salesman.

But here’s the problem. The system gets run by bureaucrats who have to enforce a set of regulations written by other bureaucrats.

Those regulations sound reasonable to anyone outside the industry, but when you suddenly find that you can’t use certain ingredients because they’re not “approved”, or you can’t tell consumers exactly why they need to take something because there’s been no research on humans, even though mammalian physiology of whatever ingredient it is has been shown to be universal across all species, then you have a problem.

It’s a system loaded with double standards. You point out to them that many over the counter drugs sold today, like panadol, are deadly if taken to excess, the bureaucrats squirm uncomfortably. When you point out that Big Pharma pushes its cholesterol lowering drugs like street dealers trying to get you hooked on crack, even though there’s no evidence that lowering cholesterol in any way helps protect against heart disease, they just point to the research provided to them by Big Pharma. And when you point to Aspartame, and the more than 70 sold, well constructed studies that demonstrate a link with brain tumours, Parkinsons Disease or some other serious ailment, they just go blank, because the money behind those products is overwhelming.

It’s a system that, here in Australia, has stifled innovation because the cost of brining a new ingredient to market is way too high, and once you’ve done so, all of your competitors can use it.

There is no doubt that the regulations were designed by Big Pharma for the convenience of Big Pharma, and there’s also no doubt that once you give the bureaucrats an opportunity to control something, they will control it to suit their own agenda.

Good luck with your campaign, but I think you’re fighting a losing battle… after all, you just have to follow th money to predict the future.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:46 PM

Jan said:

US citizen here. Signed.

On the fence, at some point personal responsibility has to come into play. Before taking any supplement, DRUG, herb, or alternative therapy it is up to you to read the ingredients and know what it is that you are consuming.

Standardized measurements, potency testing and clinical tests (like the quality supp companies do) offer the best information to the consumer in evaluating the efficacy of any drug or supp.

YOU are the one washing that pill down, government regulation is NO GUARANTEE of safety. It is a matter of informed choice, not babysitting.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:46 PM

Tanya said:

Jon I think it’s fantastic that you are raising everyone’s awareness of this. Being an Aussie I can’t vote, but I know that if that “law” passes in the US it’ll only be a matter of time before the same thing happens in Australia.

It’s totally ridiculous to need to see a doctor to get a prescription for common vitamins and supplements! I know many doctors here who wouldn’t give them out too.

Keep up your great work!

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 05:52 PM

Olga Majola said:

As a Canadian I cannot help you more than just to say that I don’t agree with what is happening. I, too, use natural supplements more than I use prescribed medication and hope that there are enough people interesed to defeat that proposal.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 06:28 PM

Roy Jones said:

I’m 70 years old and am fairly well read on nutrition. I am so far more knowlegable than my doctor that it’s not funny. What an outrage that I should have to go to a man that knows little about nutrition and pay him to prescribe for me. It is time for the (fda) to back off and let those of us with more knowledge than most of their doctors,alone. I am a responsible adult and have the right to spend my money for that which is natural as I see fit. Please refrain fron sticking your nose (fda) in my business.
Am I aware there are crooks in the vitamin business? Yes. But I also have the knowledge to learn the difference between good and bad a little faster than the (fda). Roy Jones

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 06:37 PM

Glenn Jaffas said:

Greetings from West Michigan, to Jon and all:
This is a potentially bad trend and it is indeed worth fighting.
Be assured that if it comes to pass it will be contested in the courts and tied up for many years and then ultimately shot down.
Still, it is important to stand up to government agencies and special interest forces when they attempt to take away our personal choice and personal responsibility.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 06:52 PM

Laura said:

Jon, I have also read the statistic about health care being the Number 1 cause of death in this country. I wish I could attribute the source, but my recollection is that it’s due partly to the way deaths are counted. Physician error, drug interactions, nocosomial infections, errors by others, and other sundry problems, taken separately, may not sound too bad. Adding them all together into one category is a different story.

As a long-time subscriber to the Life Extension Foundation, I urge you and your readers to take a look at www.lef.org. They have long been on the forefront of the fight against the FDA’s control over our health care freedoms. I would add the Life Extension brand to your list of trusted supplements.

Oh yes, I’m a US citizen, and I just signed the petition.

Keep up the good work Jon.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 06:56 PM

Gil Reichert said:

I cannot believe the unmitigated gall, the greed, the hunger for power, of big pharma and the sycophants at the FDA.

Have you people ever read your constitution? What happened to the part about “FREEDOM”?

Get a life!

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 07:56 PM

Pete said:

Did you READ the document?

It’s draft guidance….yes, it does say that the FDA is considering providing guidance on product regulation, but the quotes are taken out of context…so here’s one,

“First, depending on the CAM therapy or practice, a product
used in a CAM therapy or practice may be subject to regulation as a
biological product, cosmetic, drug, device, or food (including food
additives and dietary supplements) under the act or the PHS Act.
Second, neither the act nor the PHS Act exempts CAM
products from regulation.”

MAY be subject…if you read it they talk about safety. Vitamin C is still going to be available, but that doesn’t mean that EVERY herb will be (eg marijuana).

chill out and stop encouraging more spam.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 08:28 PM

Seth Spearman said:

Jon,
I am an American and I completed the survey. Thanks for the heads up.

It annoys me to have to go to a doctor to get prescription drugs much less vitamins and supplements. I have to go to a And this IS about greed.

I have never emailed you before but I read everything you send. You are an inspiration. Keep it coming. I have lost 16 pounds since mid-January and have begun working out.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 08:31 PM

Kay said:

I received this same information from another company that sells natural tooth paste (soap) and was shocked that there are only 7 days left to have us normal folk have anything to say about this. Usually reforms like this are all over the news. This is big. This is pure greed. This is the rich getting richer and the rest of us keep paying. I am surprised by all the overseas clients commenting. I am a voting American so will go to the site and express my belief or sign what I need to. I am just getting educated on supplements and my biggest fear are the scammers not selling what they say they are. Jon, good companies to trust would be a very valuable blog. Thanks for the heads up.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 08:36 PM

Tammey said:

The FDA does regulate food and have poisoned the crap out of it all along doing their best to convince us that their “poison” is the more healthy alternative…. Sugar is bad… eat our “artifical sweetner” instead… and what’s that? You have migraines? That’s OK. Happens to a lot of people… here… “take this *pill* instead”. What? You have Acid Reflux? Oh my, well that is quite commone… no worries…. take our “acid blocker of choice” - it will certainly help. What? You have constipation… no worries… quite common now a days… “here take our …..”

Mr & Mrs So & So… we are sorry to tell you that your child has _______ (fill in disease here).

The problem is that people ARE waking up and WANTING healthy NON TOXIC foods and there are HUGE potential loses. The FDA does NOT have our best interest in mind - although I am sure that their “freezer’s” are well lined with money money money. Just follow the money.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 09:02 PM

Dick said:

Big Pharma in the US has taken over…along with oil companies, insurance companies, banks, credit card issuers, communications giants. We are not far from being returned to surfdom and financial enslavement to the big guys. The original mission of the FDA was to oversee the documented efficacy of medications and strategies used by American citizens. We are now a far cry from that.

The insurance companies wrote the legislation for the Medicare Rx prescription program which Congress rubber-stamped! Guess who’s making the money AND, now that no one is watching, changing their own original rules so as to increase bottom line profits. 45% of our nation is not insured because they cannot afford the premium. That should be an embarassment in the wealthiest nation on earth. Those that manage to eke out enough money for the ridiculous premiums must settle for huge deductibles ($5000 and higher) so, again, the insurance companies are paying out nothing until the insured has shelled out the deductible amount.

What we have going on here is BIG PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES livid that they are losing money to herbals and supplements. They want it all under their domain and control. THEY have the money to contribute to our senators and representatives in Congress ALMOST ALL OF WHOM accept their favors. ..and seem to have conveniently forgotten how they got to Washington (perhaps they all should be given free samples of medications that enhance memory). Does that not smack of something outrageous? If you and I did that to each other it would be called bribery.

The reality is that the FDA has no business getting involved.This is supposed (used to be) to be a free country.

I think this quote says it best: “Democracies are never destroyed by force. They are given away from within.”

Thanks for staying on top of this for the rest of us. I have sent the message forward and I hope many others will do likewise. We need to take back (yes, take back) control of our own lives.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 09:20 PM

Jamie said:

Hi John,

I am glad you have brought this to my (and others) attention. I heard about this CODEX bill about a year ago. I hadn’t heard anything since. This is the ultimate hit on our FREEDOM. Just like say, Gun Control. I think both are absurd!!! We need regulation not control.
If the FDA were actually in it for “us” they would regulate a supplement that they cannot patent, just for the very reason they were created. To protect the people, not own them.

I truly hope there is a way to not only stop the stupidity but throw it so hard back in “their” face it knocks them out. And knocks them out in full frontal view of the American people.

Civil War material………Sad to say but even the idea of this shouldn’t come up.

Sad times,

Jamie

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 09:32 PM

Sue said:

Have you ever watch someone die, slowly? Well it’s not a pretty sight and it’s depressing as hell. That what I had to do with my dad, my father-in -law and now my mother- in-law. Why did this happen? It wasn’t the health problems they had; it was the drugs their doctor’s gave them to HELP!!! Yea, I’m still depress I guess because this pisses me off really bad. I don’t take a lot of supplements but I still believe we should all have that choice. Thank so much for letting me know so I can tell them just what I think. Maybe it will save someone else’s life.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 09:33 PM

Jim said:

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I’ll start spreading the word about this nonsense as wide as I can over the next few days. I’m not sure when the change happened but at some point our government’s focus changed to protecting the profits of big business and away from protecting the rights of individuals. That’s why now you can go to jail for copying movies (used to be a civil matter) and can lose your home if someone else can generate more tax revenue from the use of your property. And now this, clearly designed to put more money in the pockets of drug companies and doctors. We already have the most expensive health care system of any developed country - while receiving far from the best care.

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 10:01 PM

Ariana said:

To all my fellow Canadians reading this … be sure you sign your name to the “comment campaign”. I did!!

If the FDA gets away with this you can be pretty much be guaranteed the HPB will follow suit up here in Canada. Ever wonder why here in Canada you can’t buy a complete multivitamin/mineral formulations for children… because some bright bulb at the HPB said children don’t need minerals!! Guess where I buy complete multivitamin/mineral formulations for my children? You guessed it… the good old U.S. of A.

No one, and I mean absolutely no one, should ever have the right to infringe on my right to decide to use multivitamin/mineral supplements, fish oil, greens supplements or to drink vegetable juice or any form of natural remedy.

Everyone around the world make sure your voice is heard!!

Jon… thanks for bringing this subject out in the open and thanks for everything you do!!

Posted on Apr 23, 2007 10:13 PM

mary said:

Jon, thanks for the recent info. on the U.S. Federal Drug Administration’s proposed legislation to the U.S. Congress that would ban or dictate our nutritional supplement choices. I have downloaded and will read their pdf document you have listed on this blog. If we don’t have enough to deal with already. This type of FDA regulation if passed by the U.S. Congress would be rediculous. Who would want to visit a doctor, run to a pharmacy to get a prescription filled every time they run out of vitamins, fruit/vegetable juices or meal replacement powders, etc.?

I used to catch colds all the time from my teenage years until I reached my twentieth birthday. From October to May I’d catch a minimum of five colds during the winter and spring seasons every year. My mom advised me to start taking cod liver oil capsules (which contains Omega 3, essential fatty acids/healthy fat) and vitamin C tablets. Supplementing with the Vitamin A, D and C vitamins boosted my immune system. I have not been a constant cold catcher since 1981 and it’s not in my mind. I haven’t had one head or chest cold this entire winter/spring season (from October 2006 through April 2007). I get no more than 2 or 3 colds per year if that many. I know from experience that the cod liver oil/Vitamin C supplements have cleared the mucus from my chest and head as I have constantly coughed it up and blew my nose after taking those supplements. I’ve even managed to reduce what could have become a nasty cold down to a mild cold. So instead of being stuck with my normal 2 to 3 weeks cold, I’m usually over one in a maximum of seven days. As long as I keep my immune system built up as it should be, colds are a thing of the past for me. And I don’t take flu shots. Never did. Don’t intend on doing so since I’ve never had the flu, and I’ve heard of some people catching the flu after taking flue shots!

And what about those of us who are struggling to gain or maintain 1 pound of healthy body weight? Are we supposed to eat 20 to 30 lbs. of food daily. I don’t feel like eating that much food and that’s where my weight gain protein supplement comes in. I’ve gained 10 healthy pounds of body weight since February 2007 getting adequate amounts of protein, vitamins and minerals and amino acids. And what about glutamine which is reported to help increase or improve one’s lean muscle mass which in turn is reported to be responsible for a better/faster metabolism? I guess that if the U.S. Federal Drug Administration have their way with their proposed supplement regulations, more may end up sick, out of shape and over weight. But maybe that’s the plan. That’ll put more money in you know who’s pockets.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 12:18 AM

Denise said:

Thanks for the info here in Australia I can’t help you but good luck to you in your campaign
Money talks

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 12:18 AM

SAMEER said:

Hey this is too much.We all know that the Drug companies were always against CAM but just when awareness about CAM is increasing among the people,they come up with this ridiculous draft.

I think they are feeling threatened by the increasing popularity of the CAM.May be that is the reason why they want to stomp it before they loose control over the multi billion dollar industry.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 12:33 AM

moshe avramov said:

This can not be true. It is as stupid as can be and has to be stoped
right away.
Looks like the big pharma’s are on, pressing havily on the FDA.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 12:36 AM

Jinjee Talifero said:

I don’t believe in supplements myself, and I read the docket from the FDA. It doesn’t say that they are definitely going to legislate this stuff but that they are going to try to gain the right to approve certain products being sold as cures. I don’t think it is quite as much of a cause for panic or alarm as people think. It may even do us a good service and cut down on the amount of pure quackery in the alternative and complementary medicine realm.

I even see ways that this whole thing may well backfire in the medical industry’s faces, - certainly it will further integrate alternative medicine and traditional medicine. It may even open up funding sources to actually study alternative medicine! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to finally prove the real healing powers of fruits and vegetables from the results of scientific research studies! Or to compare the effectiveness of vegetable juices vs. supplements on various conditions.

However all that being said, at the same time I don’t think it can hurt to let the FDA and congress know that this bill seems unconstitutional and that we want to retain our freedoms in this area, or whatever your feelings are about this docket.

What worries me more is that by 2009 the FDA wants to have all produce irradiated before it hits the shelves. As long as I have fresh raw organic produce I know I can stay healthy. So I’m planning on growing all my own food by 2009, hopefully on a farm somewhere not in the USA. I’m already saving seeds!

Thanks to all the caring people in this online community!

Jinjee

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 12:44 AM

Li Tiande said:

The world is so multi-colours,does the FDA so simple?

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 12:47 AM

Katherine Sabathie said:

Hi there,
From a fellow Australian Naturopath/health coach, this crap has been such a battle for as long as I have been in the inducstry (over 20 years). It’s become big business now, when we where all strange people working for no$$ they took no notice. Time have changed and this fight I predict will continue for a long time. As Natural therapist we are forced to uptrain more in line with the linier thinking scientific model to be accepted. My worry is that the holistic natural healing principles will gradually be eroded. So many of the ‘new training models leave the natural healing principles to the side a little while concentrating on teaching about bottled tableted remedies.
This is a bit sad as one of the premises of natural healing is that every person is unique, it becomes treating diseases not people. as in the reductionist medical theroy.

That’s a bit of a rave from that point , now back to what the are preposing, we all should be totally to be concemed, how dare they take away freedom of choice! It’s not right in a so called democrated country.

The really scay thing is our government (Aust) in their ‘wisdom’ tend to follow the US blindly. So this is big for Australia as well as many other countries who seem to take the US lead and can’t seem to think for themselves.

I hope lots of people get on this ASAP

Kath

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 12:50 AM

K.N.Malathi said:

I am from India and have started to take Vitamin supplement for my ankylosing spondolytis since Sept 06 ( based on Linus Pauling’s book ” How to live longer & feel better ” & Norman cousin’s book ” Anatomy of illness” ). I also take the drugs prescribed by my doctor like methotrexate & sulphasalzine. My doctors feel that I am wasting my money taking these vitamin pill .

I am a frequent vistor to your site and other web site dealing with nutritional therapies & life style changes & the way the big Pharma’s are arm twisting the government to get their way .

I have implemented a number of changes suggested by these sites and I also share many of these ideas with my friends and collegues .

I have a hunch that this country will also start following these kind of moves since Big Pharma’s are making good headway in India too !! . This could mean the end of alternate therapies including our own indigenous therapies like Ayurveda , Yoga ..etc.

Thanks to internet and well meaning persons like you , people around the world will become more aware of such issues & work toward proper regulation ( not control) of health care system in their own countries .

Good luck & I hope you suceed in your efforts.

Malathi

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 12:53 AM

Marios Batas said:

I’m a European and it saddens me that I cannot help in this matter.
It seems that the American goverment continues in the same tune as “The war on terror”. With the excuse that some products are bad or some producers are crooks, the corrupted beaurocrats and the greedy real crooks are trying to make more money or collect more power in their hands…

THEY MUST BE STOPPED OR AT LEAST CONTROLLED

THE USA SHOULD ALWAYS BE A BEACON OF FREEDOM NOT A CONCEALED DICTATORSHIP OF THE BIG CORPORATIONS
.
It will be yet another black page in the American history if they succeed.

Please advise how can we, non Americans, help?

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 01:15 AM

Stacey Smith said:

Jon

This is so crucial!

I had to take tetracycline for two weeks to clear up in an infection on my ovaries.

The tetracycline ruined my intestinal flora which led to an overabundance of candida albicans in my system. This meant bouts of IBS and monthly yeast infections. My OBGYN had no cure for this except some personaly hygeine hints. That’s all.

I had to turn to natural cures to find the answer. (acidophilus, live in a carrier of yogurt ingested daily and dietary changes)

IF I HAD TO RELY ON A DOCTOR FOR A CURE, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED OR CURED.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Stacey Smith

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 01:15 AM

Gwendolyn Morton said:

Jon,
Thank you for your urgent and passionate plea to action. I followed up on your suggestion to read the docket myself.
THE DRAFT…http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E7-3259.htm
THE FDA’s SUBMIT ELECTRONIC COMMENTS page…http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm
Docket No. 2006D-0480 for reference
I decided to use the FDA’s electronic submission form and posted the following message to Mr. Chao:

Dear Mr. Chao,
I have gained health through alternative therapies such as Chiropractic and homeopathic remedies. As a steward of my own health, a consumer of alternative health care, and a person who uses the internet to research alternative healing therapies, I feel it completely unnecessary for the Food and Drug Administration or the Public Health Service Act to regulate any nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, and/or any and all alternative healing modalities that this regulation would encompass. I strongly urge you to abandon any attempts to draft guidance for industry of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products and Their Regulation by the Food and Drug Administration.
I pray you will honor my request and add my plea to the thousands before me urging you to stop this draft from going forward.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Gwendolyn Morton

My comment was registered directly to the FDA and not through the site you provided. I received several emails from several friends within the last few days about the need for urgency and pleas for action but I got totally bogged down from the politics that came up for me when I went to Democracy in Action and the HealthFreedomUSA.org site. It just made more sense to add my voice to the FDA site. Hope this helps somehow.
Thanks for all you do.
Gwendolyn Morton

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 01:20 AM

Nerida said:

After reading most of the blogs I’m very concerned about this state of

affairs, simply put we in Australia follow America blindly and this

legislation would be brought into Australia without anyone being the

wiser. I’m not one who uses supplements but the point it there is

more validity to healthal supplements than to drugs purely because

we were never designed to function on chemicals but on nature. So

in reality it all about money and the pharmacology companies having

more of it. “Evil flourishes cos the good do nothing” so with a bit of luck

the good will allow there voices to be heard and stop this madness.

Thank you John for bring this to our attention,

Sincerly Nerida

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 01:28 AM

Manuel said:

I can’t sign either, because I am not an American. However I want to share with you all what I know about the filthy scam that the international “Pharmafia” wanted to elevate to legal status in Germany. What they tried to do was to restrict all nutrient supplementation to minimum daily requirements, which were set as universal standards before World War II. Those are very, very low standards. That means that all manufacturers exceeding those very poor standards would have to either lower their products nutritional content or sell them by prescription. All companies failing to comply with that dirty move would be banned from doing business in Germany.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 02:12 AM

Ian B said:

I forgot to mention… in Australia, as in the USA, it’s actually illegal to say food is a cure for anything. Jon’s reminder that cherries are a cure for gout, or that lime is a cure for scurvey, are against the law.

I was discussing this with one of our bureaucrats here. We were trying to get approval to extoll the health benefits of our chocolate cranberries.

He said “You have to understand that the way the legislation is written, food is for nutrition, and nutrition has nothin to do with you health.” Sadly, he wouldn’t put that gem in writing to me.

He went on to say that if we wanted to talk about all of the health benefits of our cranberries, we’d have to extract whatever the active ingredient was and stick it in a pill, which would then have to pass the normal approval processes. I told him it didn’t work that way, but he was unmoved.

You really don’t want that system, but I fear it’s what’s coming at you.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 02:16 AM

Graham Foster said:

Jon

This is a great post and I want all my readers to hear about it so have posted the article on my blog http:/www.dreambodynow.com.

As per usual our goverment run department is keeping a low profile on the issue which speaks volumes and hardly helps deny or counter the arguments being put forward.

I have to say that my concerns are not what is written in the legislation which is probably daming enough to cause serious concerns and should of course be looked at very much more openly. But we should look very carefully also at what is not written.

This will leave the door open to future sweeping changes and greater control for the FDA and the multi billion dollar pharmaceuticals industry which once legistlation is passed will be hard to prevent happening behind closed doors.

With such huge amounts of money in both the pharmaceutical industry and the nutritional industry this is going to be quite a battle and this one won’t be pretty.

I think most people have realized this is all about money from both sides of the arguement the question is America becoming so apathetic that it will just lie down and take what ever our goverment tells us is good for us.

Recently the FDA have shown that inspite of their impartiality (alleged) they prefer big business as it is easier to regulate maybe 5000 corporations. Rather than 500,000 smaller entities I have seen such actions happening across the world in various different fields.

The little guy is in the way of big business and those in power will do what it takes to get their way what ever the cost.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 02:39 AM

dan said:

Just take a minute and think about where we are today and think what it will be like in 20 years time, it’s time to end governments and all ruleing bodies as we no longer need them, they were elected to keep you safe only double standards as they operate means they won’t keep you safe.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 02:55 AM

Mukesh said:

This is sick. It is happening due to greed for control/power/money of Pharmacy Companies and is fulled with those of lawmakers. People should use every media to protest under this inhuman law. Thank God this is not happening in India right now and i sincerely hope that it never does as huge percentage of our people get healed in the CAM way. May all Americans realize that they need to protect their right to choose.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 03:48 AM

Diana said:

Having read most of the FDA article and the majority of the blogs I feel I have to comment from the UK perspective. Although we can freely buy ‘alternative’ medicine ‘herbal’ medicine and all manner of vitamins such as A, B, C etc over the counter at our pharmacies and health food shops (our health food shops have an extremely wide range of medicines and supplements) our heavier and more expensive drugs such as antibiotics, statins, steroids and so forth, are still prescrived by our GPs. I believe this is the correct way as so many drugs in our country are mis-used.

By the way the FDA do say may be or might be they do not say will be and I do think there may be a bit of an over-reaction here. On the whole I agree with them and feel that there should be a form of control as again the drugs, vitamins and supplements can be mis-used by charlatans and the people themselves through ignorance.

By the way I am not a believer in prescription drugs I would rather cure myself with alternative therapies.

As a point of interest the article mentioned cranberry tablets not cranberry juice or cranberries themselves!

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 04:14 AM

Anil Gupte said:

Relax guys, the sky is not falling. If anything it is the CAM providers who are making a big issue of it probably in order to get publicity for themselves. See http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E7-3259.htm

It says
“The draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the agency’s current thinking on the regulation of complementary and alternative medicine products by FDA. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An alternative approach may be used if such approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.”

Note the important words starting with “It does not create or confer…”

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 05:40 AM

Allan said:

Thanks Jon for keeping us informed.
There has been similar suggestions of control made in Australia & New Zealand. It is said that we are only 5 to 7 years behind USA, with the gap closing.
What is the hidden agenda behind this insidious law that seems only to feather the beds of doctors ‘practicing’

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 06:37 AM

Karen said:

As an American living in Paris for a long time, I’d like to put in my 2 cents… Yes this would be a very bad deal for American public, and I fully support what you are doing. Even though not all supplements are created equally (some of them really are useless), people should be able to make their own decisions. That said, I do think there should be some requirements about truth in adverstising for products, and perhaps some oversight in terms of safety.

However, please don’t make uninformed statements about “Europe” people. Big Pharma, as well the pharmacists, have a strangle-hold on France, as much as they do in the States, it just manifests itself differently. There is a pharmacy (in the old-fashioned sense of a store selling prescription drugs, and not every thing under the sun) every couple hundred yards in Paris, and the French are among the biggest prescription drug consumers in the developed world.

Also, many supplements that are available in the US are either not available here, or you have to have a prescription to buy them! And they are generally more expensive in Europe.

The positive thing in France is that many drugs, because there are times when alternative meds don’t work and you need a drug, are much less expensive here. I have to take a thyroid replacement, and ran out last time I was visiting my family in California. The equivalent 1 month prescription in the US is FIFTEEN TIMES more expensive in California than it is in France, and this not a new or complicated drug… talk about a rip-off.

In general, both Europe and the US have their upsides and their downside,s but often not in the same way… so let’s not get into that line of tired and fairly pointless comparisons. Both places would do well to adopt each other’s best ideas and stop being silly and hateful towards one another…

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 06:45 AM

Brook Monroe said:

Anil Gupte is absolutely correct. The draft is what we in the computer biz call an RFC — Request For Comment. That’s all it is. It isn’t affecting regulations yet, and may never, because it seems to me that a lot of sensible people will be complaining about the draft.

I don’t follow all this pants-wetting, though, because the draft clearly states that any regulations would only affect supplements, treatments, and various other nostrums which specifically designate themselves as a treatment for a disease or condition. When you’re taking a specially-marketed vitamin mixture to cure cancer, that’s regulated. When you’re buying Flintstones (tm) Chewables for general purposes, that’s not. The specific language:

Whether a substance added to a food is considered to be a food additive or is GRAS, any claims associating the substance with the reduction of a disease risk are “health claims” (defined in 2 1 CFR
10 1.14(a)(l)) that require premarket review by FDA.).

Also: Except for purposes of section 201(g) [of the Act], a dietary supplement shall be deemed to be a food within the meaning of this Act (my emphasis).

And, for the record:

201(g)(1) The term “drug” means (A) articles recognized in the official United States Pharmacopeia, official Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States, or official National Formulary, or any supplement to any of them; and (B) articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals; and (C) articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals; and (D) articles intended for use as a component of any articles specified in clause (A), (B), or (C). A food or dietary supplement for which a claim, subject to sections 403(r)(1)(B) and 403(r)(3) or sections 403(r)(1)(B) and 403(r)(5)(D), is made in accordance with the requirements of section 403(r) is not a drug solely because the label or the labeling contains such a claim. A food, dietary ingredient, or dietary supplement for which a truthful and not misleading statement is made in accordance with section 403(r)(6) is not a drug under clause (C) solely because the label or the labeling contains such a statement. (Again, my emphasis.)

So, Jon, even though you “read” it (your quotes, not mine—quotes almost always mean you didn’t really…) you apparently only saw the parts that you found threatening. Looks like more than a few of the others did the same. Read the entire thing, people, before leaping to conclusions. Did anyone do this research, or am I the only one?

I have no dog in this fight, so I don’t have any bias in the matter. I had to read ALL of it and use judgement independent of any preconceived notions about what it might be about. I had to look up the existing regulations to make sure I understood what they said. I think all of you should try to do the same, because partisan readings don’t reveal the entire truth about anything. Don’t be sheep—don’t believe everything you’re told. Find out for yourself—and if you find the content of the draft too tough to read, then withhold comment, because you’re not smart enough to have an opinion about something you can’t actually read. (Yeah, not a nice thing to say. If you want to hear nice things, ask Grandma for a compliment. I’m not your Grandma.)

Not only that—you have seven days (as of the date when I’m posting this) to render comment, not seven days before the draft becomes regulation. (Although the e-mail I got makes this pretty clear, it gets one thing wrong: you’re always free to write to the FDA to comment on current policy. They’re just limiting comment on this particular draft, because they obviously can’t let it go on indefinitely.) Draft guidance proposals don’t automatically become regulations, anymore than draft bills in Congressional committees automatically become laws. (And should the draft become actual regulation, you’re free to comment on it under the “general policy” clause.)

The mature response would be to write calm, reasoned comments to the FDA regarding the draft, instead of indulging in conspiracy theories regarding “Big Pharma.” (Don’t get me started on conspiracy theories.) And, if you choose to write something to the FDA, don’t mention “Big Pharma” or even hint around the edges of it. Doing so will only get you labeled as a nut, and they’ll toss your comments. (Rule #281: If you’re going to be dumb, at least be smart about it.)

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 06:55 AM

Paulie said:

I’m an American.

And I’m amazed at the number of non-Americans chiming in on this topic. Which is frightening, really. I’d like to think that we Americans are paying attention to the world around us, but apparently we are not.

I did sign the petition; thanks, Jon, for the heads up.

As others have mentioned, this is an issue that’s been showing up in my email from various people that I have done business with over the years, and I do believe that it’s a BIG deal.

I can see how this can get comments rolling about other questionable governmental activities, and I can feel a debate coming with some of the other posters, but I shall resist.

My convictions, growing ever so deeper, are best described as Libertarian—if I had to put a name on it—in other words: “less government is good government”.

Sheesh.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 07:16 AM

Greg said:

Jonicillin, judging by the number of comments you really opened up a can of whoop-ass worms here.

I must admit to being a bit of a fence-sitter on this issue. There are far too many outlandish claims for supplements and there’s got to be a way to weed out the frauds and scams. But given their abysmal track record, the FDA is not up to the task. The FDA are all snuggly and warm in bed with their girlfriends Lily and Claris and Miss LaRoche and the twins, Johnson & Johnson.

Although the surface intent of the bill is admirable—stop hucksters from making health claims that can’t be backed up—it seems to shove the tip of the wedge in for other interpretations, as pointed out so well in many of the posts above.

So, yeah, I’ll sign it. And, no, I won’t ever go back to GNC again. (For non-US readers, GNC is a store chain “focusing on the retail sale of health and nutrition related products, over the counter drugs, and foods/food supplements world-wide through GNC branded stores.” THEY should be the object of a bill!)

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 07:30 AM

Kendra said:

I have a chronic painful condition called Endometriosis. Western Medicine can’t help me cure it. I’ve had 5 surgeries at this point to try to stop its progression to no avail. I’ve been on drugs and birth control pills, I’ve been told my hopes to stop it are either pregnancy or the big H. I’ve been one of the lucky ones, I’ve got two beautiful kids and still have all my organs.

But in 2003 I was so very sick from the pain and other issues that Endometriosis can cause that I was knocking on deaths door. I needed surgery to stop the cycle I was on but that didn’t fix the wasted body I had left. Due to my condiiton, I went for a 3 month period of not being able to hold down anything more solid than Ensure shakes and yogurt. I lost 35 lbs in a very short period of time and was very sick and weak from it.

Working with a naturalist/nutrionist I was able not only to regain my health and get back to a point that my body was strong again but I also was able to conceive and maintain a very strong healthy pregnancy. I have all the faith in the world in Alternative Medicine.

Chinese medicine has been around much longer than Western medicine and they aim at prevention not just tossing a pill to stop symptoms. Once you get to the clincially treatable symptom stage, it’s really to late. The body may never fully recover.

If this passes, women with Endometriosis will not be able to look for alternatives to the harsh drugs and useless treatments they put us through. We’d be back to the dark ages with our health care and I for one can’t see that happen. Natural Medicine saved my life, I’ll fight HELL and HIGH WATER to keep it a freedom of personal choice.

MY BODY, MY RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT I PUT INTO IT!

Thank you

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 08:23 AM

Melanie said:

I started to inform myself about alternative therapies (chiropractic, massage, supplements) about 8 years ago. I’ve heard this issue of regulation come up again and again.

I strongly disagree with discounting any of this based on the wording of the document or anyone’s opinion as the immediate effect. It’s not about what happens next month this year. It’s about trend ~ and too much regulation and government.

I sent in my comments because I think that anytime an opportunity comes up to comment on maintaining our freedom of choice on these issues we need to make an effort. I think the sheep are the ones who believe the government is going to fix the heath care in our country…We need to be able to think for ourselves and make our own decisions on how to take care of ourselves and our families.

Thank you Jon for having this post with such good input from everyone.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 08:30 AM

Damain said:

Really would like to voice my opinon and help your campaign Jon, but not being of America I cannot.
Boils my blood that companies like the FDA pretend that they’re adding to the quaility of life when it’s really just a money lust…
Anyway best of luck and keep us posted this side of the pond on your progress ;-)

-Damian

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 08:41 AM

Lara said:

Jon, please come over to my site and do some talking in the comments here? I have a feeling that this “internet hoax” idea is going to be far-spread, and I’d love for you to help clear that up. I don’t have as many readers as you do, but I have enough with sites of their own, and I’m ready to do whatever I can to spread the word about this. If you can help convince my readers, it’ll help them convince theirs.

Yes, I’ve linked off to you, to newstarget, and even the FDA’s site - but a word directly from you might help.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 08:51 AM

Shileen said:

Hey! I’m an American! … and I’m on board! I caught wind of this a few months ago but I didn’t totally trust the source. I’m thankful for people like Jon who is honest and trustworthy … and is willing to not only take a stand but educate others as well.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 09:27 AM

Anju said:

Does it sound that we should stop to consult alternative medical
practioner ? Are they allowed to work or not ?
It is really ridiculous that even a simple vitamin/ suppliment would require prescription….
Is the public outcry going to help to remove all restricitons of FDA ?

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 09:48 AM

Alex Wertheim said:

…Read on the web:

“Last week, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) informed the FDA of an error found in the Federal Register notice that set April 30, 2007 as the deadline for comments. The original draft guidance appeared in the Federal Register on February 27, 2007, along with this note: “Comments and suggestions regarding this draft document should be submitted within 90 days of publication in the Federal Register of the notice announcing the availability of the draft guidance.”

In a letter to the FDA, an attorney for the AHPA noted that this would put the actual deadline at May 29, 2007, offering the public much more time to submit comments regarding the new guidelines. Unfortunately there’s been no response yet from the FDA….

————-
Thank you, Jon, for your passion and this important alert!

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 10:04 AM

Dana said:

Good Morning!

I have to say, todays blog has really started quite an informative conversation! We’re getting perspectives we may not have otherwise gotten.

My 2 cents, and you can decide for yourselves whether they’re 1942 copper or 2007 :)

With todays administration, may will be converted to will as soon as feasible. Meaning when the public has become immune to the hysteria it currently evokes. Think gas prices here, we went from under a dollar fifty to three dollars a gallon in nothing flat, we screamed bloody murder, they dropped back to what?? 2.50, and we were relieved? Still a full dollar higher, and we were relieved. It’s real close to three again, reported to hit three in the near future, and we say nothing.

Previous posters have made relevent and informed points ….I thank you all.
The comment period, is an attempt to send out feelers, how the public feels about the issue. Comment, make your voices heard, that is the way progress should be. When we become complacent, that is when big business, and make no mistake Big Pharma IS a business, will make the decisions for you. But please, and this point was made before, make rational, well thought out comments, to appeal to their intelligence on the issue you must appear intelligent yourself :) Yo, this is a crock! or expletive of your choice will be tossed without a second thought. However, stating current regulations already cover these issues, and enforcement of those regulations would be of a greater interest to us all and in our best interest, will go a long way in being heard.

Yes, Jack and his male enhancement system, do fall under those regulations already in effect, but, where is the enforcement?

One more thing I’d like to touch on before getting on with my day. There are numerous studies on food and its health benefits, we have as a result the FDA Food Pyramid an ever evolving pyramid NO ONE pays attention to, including the schools our children attend. I personnally prefer the four food groups we had as children, have one of each at every meal, we were much healthier as a whole back then. We have foods enhanced with the B vitamins and Folic acid because it is PROVEN to prevent birth defects. We women are automatically prescribed a multi vitamin when we learn we are pregnant. We are encouraged to eat B rich foods before getting pregnant. There are numerous magazines and books dedicated to improving our health through proper nutrition and exercise. The information is out there, we just have to open our eyes and our minds. The reason big pharma has gotten so big is US! The public as a whole wants that pill so we don’t have to take responsibility for our actions or lack thereof. The EASY way out. It is OUR responsibility to re-educate and re-direct the public back to taking responsibilty for oneself. You just can’t eat 20 hamburgers loaded with mayo and fries daily, sit on the couch, and then pop a pill to make it all better when your world comes crashing down around you due to health issues.

Getting off my soap box, preaching to the choir I think :)
Anyway, my 2 cents.
Dana

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 10:27 AM

Philip Hosmer said:

The price of freedom is constant watchfulness and constant willingness to fight back. A large march on the Pharmas/FDA — it is too late to organize. Millions of letters to Congress will be right on time. Start writing paper letters, they are harder to ignore. Phil

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 10:47 AM

Glenn Jaffas said:

Philip Hosmer is right: paper letters to your congress representatives carry MUCH more weight than emails. They figure, and rightly so, that if you take the time to write on paper, you care. And you are talking to others as well.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 11:53 AM

JACK GOMEZ said:

PLEASE DO NOT INVOLVE THE F.D.A. BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

PUT TOGETHER A BOARD HALF MEN AND HALF WOMEN WITH VARING POINTS OF VIEW TO HAVE OVERSIGHT OF VITAMIN BUSINESS.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 12:11 PM

din said:

Meh. just because its classified as a drug and regulated by the FDA doesn’t mean it magically becomes unavailable or only by prescription. Please refer to the swaths of regulated drugs available OTC at your local drugstore, supermarket, or gas station convenience. Hell, in vending machines.

But, as things stand now, snake oil peddlers conveniently circumvent the law by labelling their crap as ‘herbal supplements’. This is a perfectly valid target for the FDA, and can only be addressed by regulation of such.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 01:18 PM

L.Baxter said:

Go watch this video about Codex and see what is ultimately down the road for us in 2009. This FDA ruling is just preparing us for worse. Much worse. Go to:

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/index.php

We must prevent the FDA and Codex from taking our freedom of choice for our health from us.

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 01:57 PM

Bernide Stilger said:

I was in pain for years and doctors did not know what was wrong. I am pain free due to supplements and my NCD, which doctors did not prescribe to me. So I definitely do not want them in on making choices like this for us..

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 03:17 PM