FDA: Zicam Can Permanently Kill Your Sense of Smell

(MoneyWatch)  The FDA has ordered a ban on Zicam, a cold "remedy" that can permanently disable your sense of smell. The FDA moved after it received 130 reports of anosmia, long-lasting or permanent loss of smell. You'll notice that Zicam was marketed as a cold cure without FDA approval -- that's because it's an herbal supplement. As such it is not subject to FDA regulation.

• UPDATED: Matrixx Claims Victim Status in Zicam Ban; Company Sat on 800 Complaints.

As BNET has explained before, herbal and diet supplements fall into a ridiculous hole in federal law which allows them to be marketed without any oversight from government -- unlike food or drugs. The FDA can only step in after supplements actually kill or injure people. Most recently, that happened with Hydroxycut, the diet "aid" that killed one of its customers. The FDA told Zicam's maker, Matrixx Initiatives, in a warning letter that

We are not aware of any data establishing that the Zicam Cold Remedy intranasal products are generally recognized as safe and effective for the uses identified in their labeling.

The FDA further added:

FDA recommends that consumers stop using these products and throw them away

(See more of FDA's action and recommendations on Zicam here.) Although Zicam pills are not affected by the ban (only the intranasal products), the development nonetheless should be a lesson to that endless army of people who think they can cure or prevent colds with herbal products. Whether its zinc, echinacea, vitamin C or Airborne, there always seems to be someone in the office or neighborhood who thinks they have a sure thing that prevents cold or flu. They are wrong. Nothing cures or prevents colds or flu. It's the human condition. Get used to it.

In addition to Zicam, you might want to check out that Airborne paid a $30 million fine for falsely claiming that it cures or prevents colds.

• Previously:
• Why Hydroxycut Had to Kill Someone Before the FDA Could Act