FDA attempting to control Vitamins and Minerals

FDA Website ^ | 4-11-07 | Halgr

[najida]

Exactly!
or rat droppings, sawdust and a tiny sprinkle of “Whatever” so they can say it’s, well....whatever.

[Salvey]

I’m still waiting for someone to tell me what “supports” means, when the snake oil hucksters claim that their supplement “supports” the prostate, the liver, the heart, the immune system, the digestive tract, and on and on, ad nauseum.

[Cold Heart]

If the bottle says x units of y and it doesn’t, they are breaking the laws that already exist.

I would like to see the FDA investigate quality of ingredients that come from places like China though.

[mysterio]

The way the “Food Supplements” industry is right now, they have pretty much free reign to sell sawdust as a food supplement.

Only if they market it as sawdust. False advertising laws already cover what I think you're talking about. No company can legally market sawdust as vitamin C.

[doc30]

The marketplace is more than capable of putting unscrupulous vendors out of business.

No, it's not. The consumer, unless htey have access to a million dollar lab, would never be able to know what's in the supplements they buy, particularly the herbal ones. Is it really an herbal supplement, or just dried out and ground up Romaine lettuce? And what about consistency from batch to batch. Even if it is the herb in question, the manufacturer may have no idea what the level of the active ingredients are from plant to plant.

[Oberon]

Individuals, however, can simply buy the vitamins and herbs without the claims and pay less in the process.

It's a good thing this out remains. Supplement companies don't have the profit margin to sustain ongoing supervision by the FDA.

[doc30]

I would like to see the FDA investigate quality of ingredients that come from places like China though. Like wheat in pet foods contaminated with a toxic substance.

[Red Badger]

If the bottle says x units of y and it doesn’t, they are breaking the laws that already exist.

But is anybody checking? And is anybody being fined or reprimanded?.......

[Red Badger]

In the post WWII era and probably before, Congress delegated its authority to make regulations to the various departments, because they knew that Congress didn’t have the expertise in all necessary areas. The rules that are proposed must still be published and reviewed plus the Congress can over-ride them any time they wish..........

[PaxMacian]

Laws against fraud and regarding truthful disclosure on food product contents already exist and should be enforced.

[MrLee]

Too bad some “middle ground” can’t be found on this issue. I honestly wonder if I’m getting all the stuff the label says is in them AND then wondering if the money I’m spending on vitamins & supplements is really worth it. Anecdotal evidence though nice to hear is not the same as seeing results from large contolled studies. If I want to throw my money away, I’d just go buy the latest Rolling Stones cds.....

[waverna]

It should have been done privately. There should be a UL or Good Housekeeping type seal of approval. Unfortunately people now wait for the government to step in and do this sort of thing and it doesn’t occur to anyone that there may be another solution.

[kactus]

There well could be a BIG connection between this and CAFTA. It’s all about money and control.

[TigersEye]

Are you aware that many of the so-called “food supplements” that are out there, which are supposed to contain certain minerals or chemicals, such as glucosamine or plant extracts like St. John’s Wort, really have nothing or near nothing that they advertise, in them?

If you know that for a fact then obviously the information is out there and consumers can decide for themselves. Frankly I think it's baloney but even if it's true for some products it's not an excuse to further statism.

[TigersEye]

Nanny state ping.

[TigersEye]

What I’d support is manufacturing quality standards and a standardized ‘seal of approval’ for those who meet them. If one still wants to produce or to consume unsanctioned whatever then they will be free to do so.

The industry basically aready has this and it's voluntary not a Big Brother point-of-the-gun bureaucracy. AntiGuv my butt!

[Red Badger]

Some things government IS good for. This is one of them.........

[TigersEye]

The consumer, unless htey have access to a million dollar lab, would never be able to know what's in the supplements they buy, particularly the herbal ones.

Or they could go to the company's website and see if they offer the results of their second party testing ... in a million dollar lab. Cost? A few clicks of the mouse. Or they could listen to a hand wringing nanny stater like you and demand that the government "do something!!!!" about it.

[Red Badger]

The industry basically aready has this and it's voluntary not a Big Brother point-of-the-gun bureaucracy. AntiGuv my butt!

Okay, let's get rid of the FDA entirely. No regulations at all. No food inspections, no testing of drugs, no nothing.........let the market decide........

[TigersEye]

Yeah, they do a real good job with pharmaceuticals. /s