FDA to Over Regulate Nutritional Supplements - Page 2

[MsFortune]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alenushka 

I want more regulation. I am sick and tired of hearing lead and god knows what else found in supplements. If I am paying $$$, I would like it to be safe.

Also, some things I use but I have no idea what long term side effects are as no one has to do any studied. I take Peppermint Oil capsules for IBS and it works great....but is is safe to take for years? Who knows.  It is very disconcerting.

That's the thing.  The reasons that drugs have side effects is that it is difficult to make a biologically active compound that has pharmacological activity that is desirable that does not also have some activity that is no desirable (AKA side effects).  Just because something is natural does not mean that it is safe, or healthy.  And if it does something desirable, it may have some undesirable effects as well.  And that needs to be studied.  Consumers deserve safe and effective medications.

And then there is the manufacturing issues.  There was some drama a few years ago that some teething tablets had belladonna in it.  How does that happen?  How is that OK?  

The pharma industry has some issues, but they are regulated and audited very closely.  

I just don't trust any company - pharma or "natural" oriented - to act in the best interests of consumers.  Money is just too strong of a lure.  I want a consumer protection agency with teeth.  I do think this may either raise prices or reduce availability.  But that means that what is available for sale is proven to be safe and effective, and that's a good thing.  

[Drummer's Wife]

As much as I usually lean towards, "you can't trust the FDA to look out for us", I'm oddly in favor of this, I think.  I mean, I guess it depends on how they regulate supplements; it's just that the more I think about it, the more I believe it might just be a good idea.  I started out being like, "what? how dare they!" to doing some more reading instead of reacting and am now okay with it. 

I don't think activism has to mean we can't discuss the issues about what we are fighting for or against. Why wouldn't we share views from various sides to let each individual form their own opinion? 

[Alenushka]

There many things wrong with Big Pharma, but....studies are done and published. Vioxx was recalled. People aware of Chantix issues. SSRI carry black box warning.

You buy  box of Ginco Biloba and wher eis black box warning?  It can make you bleed just as good as Coumadin in surgery  or with trauma.

I want to know, has anyone tested my Fish Oil capsule for mercury?

[sosurreal09]

I think I am starting to see what you all mean a little more here but IDK the FDA wears a lot of hats and I'm not comfortable with most of them. I have found it very hard to trust the FDA. What if they are just trying to get rid of the vitamins or worse make us have to get prescriptions for them? What if they make it a rule companies can only put 100% "DV" of any substance in the vitamin? A lot of us depend of higher doses of key vitamins, yeah we could just take like 10 of them but come on....$$$

We don't know their true intentions here IMO. The gov has to control every and anything it seems. They want to test for lead? Great. Mercury? Great. If they want to put possibly side effects from homeopathic remedies..OK but for the most part I want them to leave things alone.

What if they decide companies can't sell homeopathic remedies anymore? I use those on my DD and myself. I certainly think that what I use on DD is safer than jumping for the tylenol.

I also agree that making xylitol and other items like that "nutritional supplements" all of a sudden was weird. Sweet n Low can be bought with foodstamps but not xylitol? Come on...

[AdinaL]

THe previous posted is correct, there is no debate in Activism.  You can post to clarify details, but out and out debate and stating that you do no agree with a call to action belongs in a different forum.  Activism is for calls to action, petitions, protests, etc.  The guidelines are here: http://www.mothering.com/community/wiki/activism-guidelines  These guidelines have been in place for some time now, and are in no way new. :)  

I would be happy to move this over to News & Current Events if you wish to continue the debate. :)

[stik]

The op asked why no one was responding to her initial post and if the petition might be a scam. It's hard to answer that question without getting debate-y. So yes, perhaps it would be appropriate to move the thread so the poster's concerns can be addressed.

[AdinaL]

I have no problem moving it. :)  Off you go now....

*whoosh*

[stik]

The petition was posted by the Alliance for Natural Health.  Their prior projects include quite a lot of work on protecting the practice of alternative medicine and, interestingly, on protecting the right to practice of non-licensed nutritionists.  Their "Leadership" page lists 11 current members and the president emeritus.  Of those, 5 have a medical credential.  Three of those are specialists in integrative medicine, and one specializes in hyperbaric oxygen therapy.  The others are marketing and PR people, or nutritionists and alternative medicine practitioners who would have directly benefited from the group's lobbying work.  They seem pretty self-interested.  They pose as a consumer protection agency, but they appear to be working to promote their own interests.  So yes, I think their description of the FDA's proposed new regulations is pretty scammy.

[savithny]

Originally Posted by MsFortune 

I'd like proof that supplements and drugs are safe and effective before they are sold to consumers.  I'd like their manufacturing and purity to be overseen by a safety agency.  I don't see why - if they are safe and effective - requiring testing is a bad thing.  

Not only that, but I wonder if this is in response to the study back in march (?) that found that many of the  of herbal supplements they tested contained dangerous amounts of heavy metals like lead and arsenic, and many more simply contained no herbs at all.   The most common substitute for the herbs -- was lab-created chemicals like speed.  

[Alenushka]

Hmmm....I am sure whole a lot of people felt energetic.

Originally Posted by savithny 

Not only that, but I wonder if this is in response to the study back in march (?) that found that many of the  of herbal supplements they tested contained dangerous amounts of heavy metals like lead and arsenic, and many more simply contained no herbs at all.   The most common substitute for the herbs -- was lab-created chemicals like speed.  

[MsFortune]

Originally Posted by savithny 

Not only that, but I wonder if this is in response to the study back in march (?) that found that many of the  of herbal supplements they tested contained dangerous amounts of heavy metals like lead and arsenic, and many more simply contained no herbs at all.   The most common substitute for the herbs -- was lab-created chemicals like speed.  

I am clearly taking the wrong supplements