The FDA announced yesterday that they have created the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP), which elevates the program from its status as a division under the Office of Nutrition Labeling and Dietary Supplements. This change will “enhance the effectiveness of dietary supplement regulation by allowing ODSP to better compete for government resources and capabilities … Read more
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are calling on the FDA to investigate manufacturers of dietary supplements who list “acacia rigidula” as an ingredient in their products. That phrase masks the addition of BMPEA, a dangerous synthetic amphetamine. A study released earlier this month in Analytical Chemistry found the drug in 11 out … Read more
A new study published in Analytical Chemistry has revealed that an ingredient common in many dietary supplements, weight loss supplements, and workout supplements has never been studied for safety and efficacy in human beings. The ingredient is called β-methylphenylethylamine (BMPEA). It is chemically almost identical to amphetamines, so it is called an amphetamine isomer. Canadian health officials pulled … Read more
Dietary supplements are very popular in this country. However, Center for Science in the Public Interest is warning consumers that buying these products over the internet can be risky. First, many “testimonials” from “customers” are fake. The same “person” is usually used repeatedly by different companies, writing the same thing about different products. Second, free … Read more
For those trying to make good on New Year’s resolutions to lose weight with the help of dietary supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has some advice: beware. The FDA doesn’t evaluate supplements before they enter the market. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe. Unfortunately, not all of them … Read more
After two young men died from taking powdered pure caffeine, the U.S. Food ad Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer advisory and is now mulling further action, according to Michael Landa, Director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Eighteen-year-old, Logan James Stiner, a high school senior, athlete and prom king died days before … Read more
The FDA is warning those who are immunocompromised against taking dietary supplements that contain live bacteria or yeast and is warning healthcare providers about the use of these products in susceptible patients. A premature infant who was given ABC Dophilus Powder as part of an in-hospital treatment developed gastrointestinal mucormycosis caused by the mold Rhizopus … Read more
The Food and Drug Administration, in one of its Consumer Updates, reminds you that mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your heath. Robert Mozersky , a medical officer at the FDA said, “Some dietary supplements may increase the effect of your medication, and other dietary supplements may decrease it.” Dietary supplements can change metabolism, … Read more
The Federal Trade Commission has settled with Applied Food Sciences, Inc. on charges that it used the results of a flawed study to market baseless weight-loss claims about its green coffee extract. The FTC stated that the study was “so hopelessly flawed that no reliable conclusions could be drawn from it.” The flawed study was … Read more
Despite claims by some manufacturers, dietary supplements do not treat concussions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants consumers to know. Especially, parents of kids involved in football, soccer and other fall sports. A concussion is a traumatic brain injuries (TBI) caused by a blow to the head, or by violent shaking of the head … Read more