How Should FDA Regulate Diet Supplements?

Dietary Supplement Health And Education Act Regulates Supplements As Foods, Not Drugs

(CBS)  Supplement companies promising "skinny" are now being slapped with fat fines for false advertising, CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports. So how did they get away with it in the fisrt place?

In 1993, the FDA was on the verge of enforcing a "truth in labeling regulation" for dietary supplements. The industry struck back with commercials that urged consumers to write to their congressmen or else they might have to kiss their Vitamin C goodbye.

"More people wrote to Congress about the supplement bill than wrote about the Vietnam War," says science and medical writer Dan Hurley.

Hurley says Congress caved and passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 instead.

Does it protect the consumer? "I would say it protects the manufacturers. It frees them of any requirement to prove that their product is safe or effective before it's sold," Hurley says.

Hurley — who investigated the supplement industry for his book "Natural Causes" — says the supplement industry then convinced lawmakers to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on studies, looking at everything from treating colds with echinacea to treating cancer with mistletoe and shark cartilage.

"We learned that most of of the products tested have not worked," Hurley says.

But not everyone agrees. David Seckman, the head of the Natural Products Association, says supplements have been proven to work and are safe. But if they're safe, what's the problem with regulating them?

"They are regulated," Seckman says. "That's just it; as a food, not a drug."

The difference? Drugs have to be approved by the FDA before they hit the market. Supplements don't. So when it comes to protecting people before there's a problem, the FDA has its hands tied.

[ahart13]

Give me a break! Why is it that the media loves to stir-up fear? Let me assure you that there are far more deaths from prescription drugs than there are from the "natural" products purchased over-the-counter. Does CBS have some link to the book you proudly displayed on this piece? I smell vested interest on your part to sell books. Your "expert" and author of this book was most unimpressive.

A conservative estimate of the number of individuals killed by regulated medicine each year
(both error and "non-error" drugs, surgery is about 250,000 with many thinking that a higher estimate of three times that amount to be more accurate. How much has the FDA helped us in this matter? Look at Vioxx! The FDA appears to favor the Pharmaceutical corporations who would love to shut the herbal industry down. Few deaths can be attributed to the natural suppliment/herb business and most of these products are taken without supervision. Safe is an understatment of this business!

CBS you are barking up the wrong tree. You have the wrong **** treed.

[rgattodc1]

CBS, Katie and the nightly news staff,

I own a small supplement company. I was surprised at how little your story did to show the kind of FDA regulation that we in the industry actually do have to deal with. There are numerous rules concerning labeling and claims that can be made about products. For example you can make a structure function claim but not a health claim or disease claim concerning your products. This information is available from the FDA. Your story would seem to indicate that the supplement industry is unregulated and has no merit.

The top manufacturers of supplements in the country would never be able to afford the cost of FDA regulation if it was analogous to the way pharmaceuticals are treated. Drug companies have so much money at their disposal that they can afford the half billion dollars it takes to push something through the FDA.

I fear that stories like yours will harm companies like my own and have a deliterious affect on the health of many americans because of the way the supplement industry was negatively portrayed.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert J. Gatto Jr.
Manager
Allegheny Nutritionals, LLC

[zackdu76]

Give me a break. The FDA doesnt need to regulate supplements because they are safe. Where did they dig up this Hurly guy anyways?! 700,000 people a year go to the emergancy room because of DRUGS approved by the fda,over 100,000 die.NSAID's like tylenol and ibuprofin kill atleast 8000 people a year.CBS has sold out and its very sad.IF they try to regulate my supplements i will be in Washington protesting.

[neilelevin]

From the FDA's own web page comes proof that dietary supplements are regulated more strictly than foods but less strictly than controlled substances (drugs):

FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those covering "conventional" foods and drug products (prescription and Over-the-Counter). Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the dietary supplement manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement is safe before it is marketed. FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe dietary supplement product after it reaches the market. Generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with FDA nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements.* Manufacturers must make sure that product label information is truthful and not misleading.

FDA's post-marketing responsibilities include monitoring safety, e.g. voluntary dietary supplement adverse event reporting, and product information, such as labeling, claims, package inserts, and accompanying literature. The Federal Trade Commission regulates dietary supplement advertising.

*Domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture/process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the United States are required to register their facility with the FDA.

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/supplmnt.html

[ejtjoe]

Good evening! Supplements aren't allowed to cure desease, only drugs can. I'll bet more drugs and medical practioners kill patients than any supplement. You already regulate drugs and they kill more patients leagly than any vitamin or herb ever will. How many cancer patients are kiled by chemo? I'll bet you know someone who died from the CURE. And how many doctors even have working knowledge about supplements? Mine tells me he was never taught about this in Med. school. Lastly, most of us take Vitamin A,B,C,D. Some how you have everything known to man as not good and all FDA drugs as gospel. If you think about it , when was the last time you took a drug that cured any desease. My high blood pressure meds do not cure hypertension, just keep it in the normal range. You would think if drugs where so good : THEY WOULD ACTUALY CURE SOMETHING. Thank you.

[aajct3]

CBS, as usual ,is on the right track so keep barking at the tree cause I smell the rat(s) . Authors of off the hand comments I just read about the evil FDA and the wonders of herbs- are from ill informed purchasers. The companies market products that are dangerous and potentially deadly in sensitive individials. Or in the alternative, they do NOTHING AT ALL but empty your wallet.

They have no scientific discipline or rigor for clincial trials to suggest, let alone prove safety and will sell you products that cure everything from erectile dysfuntion to micromastia ( small breasts) . Diet and weight loss products are still the main vehicle for their greed .Ephedrine was banned and will stay banned with unanimous suport of the medical community . These particular products play well on our youth and beauty receptors marketed by slick Madison Avenue folks. Most are defenseless against their label promises usually prominently placed in the vitamin aisle. Ask any doctor and you will find out they are not happy with the drug companies but they HATE the dietary supplement industry and have NO AXE TO GRIND.

Kudos to the FTC for recent crack down and fines since the new year. Hopefully the new democratic congress will change DSEHA and keep people safer and in doing so less separated from their dollars. Ms, Couric please keep reporting on this issue. Anne Andrews . Irvine California .

[truthspeaks1]

See the post below this one ...Anne Andrews is a jackass_who works for the big pharma industry....nuf said

[bigonion55]

As a licenced pharmacist for 30+ years the answer is simiple. "SOLD AS DRUGS BUT REGULATED AS A FOOD". AS WITH HOMEOPATHICS, SUPPLEMENTS DO NOT HAVE TO PROVE THEIR WORTH. CLAIM ANYTHING YOU FEEL WILL SELL THE PRODUCT! Its that simple. As a food or homeopathic, proof of medicinal properties and documented results are not required. The 1994 (non)-regulation opened this door even wider than it had been before. SAVE YOUR MONEY, PEOPLE... LISTEN TO YOUR PHYSCIAN AND PHARMACIST, NOT THE PEOPLE SELLING THE PRODUCT OR THE INDUSTRY THAT PROFITS FROM IT.

[calorock]

Your story on suppliments is really off the mark,when I could not get out of bed. Suppliments got me up and saved my life. Plus they help me manage my prostate cancer. Most people do not take the curative doses required to help them. My suppliment controls cholesterol and my cancer. I should be taking double the dose but I can not afford it.
Also word of mouth covers suppliments better than the government. Most of the time a bad suppliment is known in the world of suppliment users. We care about our bodies more than the press or the government.

[mirtocap]

Thank God for supplements, after prescription drugs such as Lipitor, HCTZ, and more almost killed me. Today I eat right and take a lot of NATURAL Supplement. Unlike prescription drugs which are synthetic and toxic to the body, Supplements are mostly natural if you take the correct ones. Prescription drugs kill over 106,000 people per year and many more people have a great reduction in quality of life. I at one time was one of these, but now I feel great and my life is full of energy. On the other hand, deaths by vitamins poisoning appear to be quite rare in the US, typically none in a given year. Source Wikipedia a highly reputable source of information, unlike CBS.

How about doing a story on the blatant false advertisement you are seeing every night on TV related to prescription drugs? Start with Vytorin by Merck. You probably won't because they spend too much money with you on advertising. Cholesterol is not even the main cause of the problem and related to family, what a joke. Maybe in extremely rare cases unlike they lead people to believe. And they brain wash the public every night with those lies. Come to the 21st Century of Cellular medicine by such people as Dr. Matthias Rath and learn the truth for a change. Conventional medicine and conventional doctors are still in the "dark ages" when it comes to infective and degenerative diseases and Prescription Drugs are The largest Orchestrated Fraud in human history.

[mirtocap]

The following was posted here by a pharmacist. What a joke. I'd sooner trust a used car salesman.

"SAVE YOUR MONEY, PEOPLE... LISTEN TO YOUR PHYSCIAN AND PHARMACIST, NOT THE PEOPLE SELLING THE PRODUCT OR THE INDUSTRY THAT PROFITS FROM IT."

I listened to my physician and pharmacist and almost died. What he is saying is save your money and buy the pills he sells which are toxic to the body. The people who profit from the lies he promotes are Big Pharma, Doctors, Pharmacist, and a host of others in the field of iatrongenics. Emergency medicine yes, but when it comes to infective and degenerative diseases, these people are still in the "Dark Ages."

Today I eat right and take a lot of supplements. Unlike prescription drugs that were disastrous for my health, supplement have proven themselves many times over and I can dance again and live a life full of energy.

[altnature]

Where do herbs come from? Herbs grow wild in yards, on roadsides, fields and in the woods. There are over 300 species of plants used as medicine in Tennessee alone, ( photos and plant descriptions at http://altnature.com )not to mention herbs that people grow in their gardens and even many of the things in our spice racks have medicinal properties.

How far will this go? Will we attempt to alter Nature in an attempt to pacify Big Pharm? Burn all the herbal books to keep people from learning? Or take on another disaster like the drug war we are already losing? The government can't even stop the growth or importation of one illegal plant, let alone over 1000 species.

Herbs have helped me where prescriptions have failed. After watching CBS news for all of my 42 years, I am changing channels. That's the best way to win this war.
Karen Bergeron
Alternative Nature Online Herbal and Medicinal Plant Photo Gallery
http://altnature.com

[jamintn]

So I guess CBS is telling us that since the FDA has their hands tied, we can't possibly make informed decisions on our own. How can we be so ignorant to even consider an alternative to man concocted chemicals? Even though the alternative occurs naturally, meaning man didn't make it.

Altnature is right. How far does CBS want us to take this? This same elitism in certain individuals, and the willingness of others to follow has driven our society through the ages. Why do we have to only feel safe if the FDA tells us it's ok? Why would we trust them over our grandma's home remedies? Why can't we just make our own informed decisions? Why couldn't CBS do a FYI series on remedies found in your yard? Because as altnature points out, the FDA can't regulate that!

[cornelius101]

Re: Are Herbal Supplements Hurting You?

I%u2019ve got three words for CBS News, Misleading, Misleading, Misleading.

It%u2019s not people like me and others (Chinese for thousands of years) who TRULY understand the value of Herbal Supplements but the individuals who have yet to become exposed to the benefits of Herbal Supplements. You could very easily have negatively affected hundreds of thousands of people. Is this what the CBS News organization stands for? Is money or should I say the %u201Clove of money%u201D (significant pharmaceutical commercials) is what your organization lives for? Although I understand profit is important to the success of any business or corporation, does it have to be at the expense of others?

I wasn%u2019t always a proponent of Herbal Supplements (so called Alternative Medicine) until 15 years ago when my %u201Cdoctors%u201D (eventually 18 in total) were unable to properly diagnose a serious health problem. In short, one visit to a %u201CNaturopathic %u201D (www.naturopathic.org I have no association with this organization) and recovery was almost immediate. As of today, at 57 years old, I%u2019m a world class athlete due to in large part because of Herbal Supplements and the like.

CBS News could have negatively influenced or helped to rob me of the %u201Csecond life%u201D I now so completely enjoy. Please think about the consequences when devoting such attention to something so very, very important.

[baye13]

FDA approved meds are better? I don't see people breaking into pharmacies stealing St. John's Wort.

[drinuk]

The FDA cannot be trusted to administer anything which benefits the health of the people. They are corrupt and in the pocket of Big Pharma, our health is not in their remit. This story is yet another piece of propoganda by Big Pharma who are becoming increasingly worried with regard to genuine natural medicines which they cannot patent. It is an attempt to denigrate the internet and the knowledge we the people are gaining from it. There is a revolution in health care by Natural means to their cost and it will continue to grow ever more radiply.
So be prepared for more attempts to control your freedom to choose, with media companies like CBS playing along with their stockholders Big Pharma and their servants at the FDA.
Proof of their incestuous relationship with the "Drug Mafia" is their murderous refusal to to ban Aspartame, behaviour that can only be described as Genocide.
This month on behalf of the South African government a charge of Genocide as been lodged against those people who have poisoned thousands in that country with HIV and AIDS drugs. You can put all the money you have on the fact that CBS will not be repoting this prosecution.

[bricky111]

I am a 47 year old male.I've been seeing many different doctors for approx. the past 15 yrs. for extreme anxiety and deppresion.Ive also been in the hospital half a dozen times. The doctors had me on Zyprexa,Cymbalta,Zanax,Effexore,Hydrocodone and more.It cost me thousands between drugs and doctors.I got to were I felt so bad I couldnt see straight.Threw up every morning,felt beyond horrible every day,couldnt stand the light. The drugs werent helping so I decided to quit(had to quit,no money and I was dying).It took me three weeks of unbelievable withdrawls,then a month of eating properly and a regiment of vitamins (the B family mostly)to feel like a human again. I owe my life and well being to suppliments (because you just cant get everything you need from food).Suppliments are regulated by multiple agencies to see that what thier putting in them is what they say it is.You must look for the stamp on the label.If you eat healthyand take the right vitamins you WILL NOT BE OVERWEIGHT. Doctors(not all)and weight lose supplement manmufacturers should all be gang sued in a class action lawsuit representing every american citizen,for every penny they've cost us because of thier ignorance or thier outrite deception. P.S. STOP EATING SUGAR It will kill you!!!!

[bricky111]

I am a 47 year old male.I've been seeing many different doctors for approx. the past 15 yrs. for extreme anxiety and deppresion.Ive also been in the hospital half a dozen times. The doctors had me on Zyprexa,Cymbalta,Zanax,Effexore,Hydrocodone and more.It cost me thousands between drugs and doctors.I got to were I felt so bad I couldnt see straight.Threw up every morning,felt beyond horrible every day,couldnt stand the light. The drugs werent helping so I decided to quit(had to quit,no money and I was dying).It took me three weeks of unbelievable withdrawls,then a month of eating properly and a regiment of vitamins (the B family mostly)to feel like a human again. I owe my life and well being to suppliments (because you just cant get everything you need from food).Suppliments are regulated by multiple agencies to see that what thier putting in them is what they say it is.You must look for the stamp on the label.If you eat healthyand take the right vitamins you WILL NOT BE OVERWEIGHT. Doctors(not all)and weight lose supplement manmufacturers should all be gang sued in a class action lawsuit representing every american citizen,for every penny they've cost us because of thier ignorance or thier outrite deception. P.S. STOP EATING SUGAR It will kill you!!!!

[drinuk]

If you work for the FDA, how can you look at yourself in mirror each morning knowing that what you do every day and the decisions you take are causing misery to millions of people worldwide. How can you advocate Chemo which has a 5% success rate worlwide, whilst other cheap and more effective treatments are available. Shame on YOU. God will be your judge, LUKE 8-17 "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open" You have been warned.

[drinuk]

I would also point out that Dan Hurley is being very mean with the truth, he mentions what does NOT work for cancer, he fails however to state what does. Like saying I saw George Bush sober yesterday, which implies he was drunk the day previously. Hurley is obviously yet another BIG Pharma PUPPET, or should I say Muppet. CANCER is not a Killer....CHEMO is! Go find the alternatives, they are out there.

[wallyrc56]

I have been using nutritional supplements for over 25 years and when I began using supplements is when I started getting better. With the use of the right supplements, I got my health and energy back. I have also used supplements to reverse depression and BioSil to reverse some serious joint problems that I had at a young age. I have spent a great deal of time researching the field of natural medicine and have seen hundreds of people get off anti-depressive drugs that were not working and switch to supplements like Tyrosine and SAM-e with far better results. My father died from the Coumadin he was on, as it caused him to have liver and kidney failure. There is an alternative called Nattokinase that has been fully researched to show that it can break down the fibrin that causes the blood clotts. My girlfriend has two clotting factors that she was born with. Natto is now working better than the drug that she was on without the liver problems she was experiencing. If CBS did any real reporting in the field of Natural Medicine, they could find so much real research out there to support supplements preventing and reversing chronic health problems as drugs don't get to the root of the problems. When I met my girlfriend she was on five perscriptions and unhealthy, now she is on number of nutritional supplements but is the healthiest she has been in years. There are many published studies showing supplements such as CoQ10 working for heart problems when drugs do not.

[gjzeitler]

I would like to see Dan Hurley's studies on the supplements he say's do not work.

[drinuk]

The details as noted regarding South Africa in my previous post are as follows.

Following intervention from South African President Thebo Mbeki, A person known as Zacki Achmat as been cited for Genocide at the International Criminal Court in the Hauge.

His crime was to implement the use of HIV and Aids drugs as approved by the FDA to thousands of poor South African People, who sadly passed away.

Full details www.tig.org.za

Hopefully retribution to ALL those responsible will be swift.

[usana4life]

Supplements sold off the shelf are of food grade quality. Remember, the same FDA that regulates these supplements, is the same FDA that allows a plethora of harmful chemicals, including MSG's, in our foods. Most are a waste of money. More times than not, what the label says and what you are actually getting can be quite a bit different.

There are pharmaceutical grade supplements available, with guaranteed potencies. These are the highest quality supplements available, using the highest quality ingredients found from around the world. Cellular nutrition is a science, you shouldn't just trust it to any company trying to make money on the latest fad. Do your research before committing to any product.

[maggieb9]

First, I am so encouraged to see all the comments from smart americans who use dietary supplements. Second, I'm so ashamed to live in a country where news programs like CBS evening news, sponsored by drug companies, do a smear piece on supplements that help people achieve wellness. A message to all smart people...Stop watching television shows like the today show, cbs evening news, and other programs sponsored by big Pharma, maybe then they'll leave us alone.

[revrom]

I have been using nutritional supplements for 30 years, after a doctor predicted I would be a cripple before I turned 60. I am now 76 years old and enjoying very good health. Hurley is in the service of the BIG PHARMA. FDA approved medicine kills thousands of people every year, many more than the total of nutritional supplements. Revrom

[revrom]

Thirty years ago, my doctors predicted I would be a cripple by age 60. I started taking nutritional supplements and and still enjoying good health at age 76. Hurley is serving BIG PHARMA in making the claims he does. Thousands more people are killed by FDA approved drugs every year, relatively few by the wrong use of nutritional supplements. FDA benefits BIG PHARMA, not the people. BOBVAN30

[drjoeb-2009]

Having been an MD for the last 17 years I've had the opportunity to meet and work as a consultant with the two of the largest pharma companies in the World. Ten years ago these companies had full R&D pipelines with great products that kept them preoccupied. Now the number of products in their pipelines has dropped significantly and they're turning to other areas to drive revenue. In particular Glaxo Smith Kline is moving into the weight loss category with an OTC product (Alli) that will be sold in Wal Mart this year once FDA approval is granted. This has always been an area that dietary supplements thrive in and Big Pharma has avoided. Now this is changing and Big Pharma is coming after the supplement players.
Clearly CBS did not decide to just run a prime time story about supplements on a whim. Look at who advertises the most on CBS. Glaxo... I don't doubt for a second that the marketers at Glaxo demanded that CBS develop a story to discredit the supplement industry. Keep an eye out for Alli commercials on CBS in the coming months.
Dr Joe B
(Full name with held as I'm a practicing MD that does not need to be hassled by Big Pharma)

[xport2]

Why Should Supplements be regulated?
Should oranges, kale for their vitamin C is regulated? What if a company has the capability to extract the contents of natural fruits and vegetables and put them in a bioavailability and biocompatible form?
The supplements I take has help in choosing fresh vegetable for the value they may have. It is said, that some vegetables may loose some of their value from the field to the table.
Supplements are what they are, supplements, not substitutes for eating wholesome food.
All I hear about supplements are they may interfere with your meds. Well I am not on meds, pass 60 years old, so my supplements want interfere. Some say, herbs don%u2019t work. Where do medicine get their start? You know herb isn%u2019t just herb, they contain vitamins, minerals according to many authors of herbal books.
We talk about the cost of health care, who will pay, those who understand what they are doing may lower their cost by doing thing that support a good immune system.

[natfire]

Protect our Freedom! For additional info on this subject and how you can get involved, go to: http://www.nha2007.com

[rodbarker60]

You only have to do a search on Nutrasweet to find out how corrupt the FDA really is. As an MS patient that weighed the small benefit (10-20%) of the leading MS prescriptions (at prices of $1000 per month) to a proper diet and vitamins as described by the book "The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book" by Dr. Roy Swank at 80-90% effective even after 20 years (at about $40 per month). He didn't make the distinction of Hydrogenated Oils back then, but we know to stay away from those instead of the Saturated Fats like he suggested. Last time I saw my Dr. he said if we were in a line-up he would be picked as the diseased one over me. Down with the FDS!

[catalogbiz]

Delete my post again CBS, I'll keep submitting it until I have been sufficiently amused.

I have not yet read Hurly's book Natural Causes so I quote Steve Mister, CRN president:

%u201CThe book includes more than 200 footnotes, but a cursory examination shows the author repeatedly footnotes his own inquiries, other people's opinions and people who spoke anonymously. This is not the bibliography of a serious piece of work. Hurley relies primarily on personal opinion and isolated incidents to falsely imply that these cases represent the experience of the more than 150 million Americans who take safe, beneficial dietary supplements as part of their healthy lifestyle choices. The book Natural Causes cannot be considered a credible, scientific work. This is an assortment of extreme anecdotes that exploit rare and tragic misfortunes in an agenda-driven attempt to sell books.%u201D

It is clear the real reasons you chose to do this story have nothing to do with facts related to the nutritional supplement industry. As has been detailed by many others posting here, one reason is your reliance on the pharmaceutical industry. Secondly, you chose this story and to get folks to watch your failed anchor Katie Couric. She and your nightly news are a failure, and by promoting this sensational story I again contend you will lose 20 times the number of viewers you could have ever gained by getting them to tune in.

[dakotakenn]

I have faithfully been watching CBS Evening News, but your shoddy journalism on this story is appalling and makes me question all of your health reporting.

I hoped, after the first part of your 2 part series, that you would give a separate persepctive on day 2. But your main source for both segments was only Dan Hurley.

You gave no credible information about legitimate concerns with supplements aside from diet pills, did no comparison of negative effects between supplements and other OTC medications or Rx alternatives. In fact you lump all supplements together - that is as silly as painting all RX meds as bad because of side effects with one.

You railed at teh fact that supplements are not FDA regulated, did not explore the ecnomic issues which drive drug companies to study Rx meds but give no economic incentive to study non-patentable herbal remedies.

Like many, you did not even look beyond our borders where many supplements and herbs have been studied extensively and used in Europe and Asia for centuries.

Responsible journalism would have included real facts, balanced perspective, interviews with medical personnel. You touted government results, but didn't even interview any official with responsibility for supplements studies.

Shame on you.

[charlesarno]

What an irresponsible use of broadcasting power! You have a 'burn' against the $20 billion supplements industry, so you open with an entrepreneur......who prepares herbal concoctions in her home kitchen!?

You cite an 'unknown', Dan Hurley, because he published a book? There are thousands of books, pro- and anti- , in circulation on this subject, many written by better credentialed researchers. Why did you elevate Dan Hurley "to the purple"? How is he, suddenly, an "authority"? How much does he, or you, know about "biochemical individuality"?

Seems that CBS News has jumped on the bandwagon, to put strangling regulations on the inexpensive availability of herbal supplements, at the behest of the $400 billion Pharma industry. Humankind has been using herbal remedies for millennia, without suffering the devastation wrought by Pharma's pantheon of 'harmless' side effects. But, then, since CBS, et al, derive so much revenue from tooting Pharma's horn, what else are we to expect from broadcast "journalism"?

When the revolving-door FDA tries to sellout to the complete control of Pharma again, they'll have their hands full (again). Maybe, the FDA will even lose its license to (unscientifically) practice! Take this 'trial balloon', and burst it!

[missval973]

Is CBS even remotely interested in the truth about supplement?... OR perhaps they are in the pocket of "big pharma!" There are many good studies, legit studies, not the "Kitchen quacks" that the media consistantly use to tout their ridiculous big pharm campaign, but good studies that prove over and over again that supplements and herbal remedies, when used correctly, work. I believe that that this type of shoddy journalism has an agenda. Why are there still pain medicines available that have been proven to cause heart attacks, if not for the money that is generated for the FDA and big pharma? Explain to me how the regulation by FDA has helped us there? Yet you want to outlaw B12 or vitamin C? C'mon cbs! Transparent as cling wrap! Your in someone's back pocket!

Missval

[rampagesr]

Many of the supplement companies sell their products through Multilevel Marketing (MLM) pyramid schemes. This allows the companies to recruit distributors to sell their products. However, the distributor's cost is inflated and is very unlikely to sell the product. So instead, the distributors recruit more distributors into the pyramid so they can collect commissions from required monthly minimum purchases to qualify as a distributor.

These distributors make health claims like how products containing grape seed extract can reverse the affects of certain cancers (Dr. Ladd McNamara, a USANA Gold distributor and on USANA's Medical Advisory Board, made this claim during a USANA distributor meeting). When asked how USANA can make such claims. He said USANA doesn't make any health claims and since he is a doctor he can make any health claim he wants. So many of these nutritional supplement companies hire people to make the health claims for them. Distributors also make verbal health claims that are not permitted by law, but little is ever done about it.

Many commenting on here repeat the same slogans that are taught during MLM training material. On many MLM forums selling nutritional supplements, distributors are urged to comment on the CBS website regarding this segment. So most of the comments on here are from distributors selling supplements. These individuals insinuating greed amongst drug companies, only have to look in the mirror (from recruiting members into pyramid schemes).

[sewbusy-2009]

CBS, when are you going to learn? You have only angered those of us who know that supplements are effective, needed and safe.
Like duh%u2026%u2026why do you think more people wrote letters to Congress for supplements than for the entire Vietnam War? WAKE UP!! Smell the green tea!! I was one of those people. Those of us who wrote, know that supplements work. We have the right to make our own decisions on our health. Government needs to keep their dirty little hands away from my good health!

[epearson65]

I%u2019m disappointed with CBS. They didn%u2019t provide compelling evidence of a problem and seemed biased. It is already illegal for a dietary supplement to make claims to cure or treat any illness or medical condition, and obesity is recognized as a medical condition. Enforce it!

I believe it should also be up to consumers to research myth and truth, especially since these products aren%u2019t dangerous except when misused (the same way household items such as toothpaste and hairspray can be harmful). Consumers already use judgment when buying products from wrinkle cream to junk food. They should talk to doctors before trying products that may not produce results, or may exacerbate existing conditions. Dietary supplements are already required to display this warning even though foods with hydrogenated oils, MSG and nitrates are not.

I also believe the government should facilitate the flow of TRUTHFUL information so that consumers aren%u2019t misled and don%u2019t have decisions made for them by entities with more interest in the state of the economy or profit than the health of the consumer. The government has historically made policies detrimental to consumer health in order to preserve industries that contribute to the economic health of the nation (beef, tobacco, pesticides, health insurance and petroleum just to name a few). Economic health is important, but I hope everyone understands that there will be a price to pay for putting profit first.

[mirtocap]

Did Dan Hurley and CBS not know how to read about the accusations they made against supplements. Suggest they go into a supplements store, probably never have, and pick up a bottle of Vitamins,Minerals, Amino Acids and read the following on most items that make any clain: (It's on almost every bottle.)

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Suggest they bring this back to the people's payroll they are on and prepare a new game plan. While they are at it share this with them: "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain, it takes away the life of the owner".
The following is the truth and I challenge you to let me prove this anyplace you want. **Just one more reason in the line of many on why "Prescription Drugs are the largest Orchestrated Fraud in human history when it comes to infective and degenerative diseases".**

And let us not forget the VIOXX SCAM.

[natmedlaw]

The readers of Natural Medicine Law Newsletter know all about what is required to comply with the law as well as what happens when someone gets in trouble. We are in our 10th year of publication and its all free except the current hard copy issue on out website. Just use my name with a dot com and take a look.

[kirk1639]

It is obvious that this report is influenced by the BIG drug companies. They are already making huge profits and spend huge dollars advertising on your network .Why don't you have some experts in eastern medicine and natural medicine have a chance to respond so the audience could here both sides of the story.if this keeps up,soon we will be so regulated that we will have no choice in any matter.I know many people who have had great results using natural products who have been able to avoid the many side effects of the prescription drugs which are handed out like candy to the public. It is a shame that young children are also being prescrbibed drugs wityout trying safer non addictive methods first.

thoroughly disgusted,

Al Bosco

[euthman]

The FDA claims that the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA '94) limits its jurisdiction over food supplements. While the Act did in fact remove the requirement for pre-market approval, the FDA is still called on to enforce the veracity of claims made by the manufacturers. Thus, from the FDA's own Web site:

"In addition, manufacturers may describe the supplement's effects on 'structure or function' of the body or the 'well-being' achieved by consuming the dietary ingredient. To use these claims, manufacturers must have substantiation that the statements are truthful and not misleading..." (ref: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dietsupp.html )

I defy the FDA to prove it has held the manufacturers to substantiate the claims that their products can "remove toxins," "promote prostate health," "enhance immune function," or possess any health-giving properties at all. The FDA is clearly not doing its job in protecting the consumer, and I urge CBS News to expose this derogation of responsibility by a Federal agency.

[euthman]

The FDA claims that the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA '94) limits its jurisdiction over food supplements. While the Act did in fact remove the requirement for pre-market approval, the FDA is still called on to enforce the veracity of claims made by the manufacturers. Thus, from the FDA's own Web site:

"In addition, manufacturers may describe the supplement's effects on 'structure or function' of the body or the 'well-being' achieved by consuming the dietary ingredient. To use these claims, manufacturers must have substantiation that the statements are truthful and not misleading..." (ref: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dietsupp.html )

I defy the FDA to prove it has held the manufacturers to substantiate the claims that their products can "remove toxins," "promote prostate health," "enhance immune function," or possess any health-giving properties at all. The FDA is clearly not doing its job in protecting the consumer, and I urge CBS News to expose this derogation of responsibility by a Federal agency.

[luckybean2]

Whose payroll are Hurley and Alfonsi on? My family has been taking supplements for over 50 years and I don't think its time for the FDA to tell me I don't know the dose of Vitamin C to put in my mouth. If you want to show a few examples of people that don't educate themselves before they use or overuse something, then tell Katie I'm turning the channel. This form of journalism is appalling. Maybe Alfonsi needs to walk-in KMART to see One-A-Day now makes vitamins with herbs for weight loss, joints, memory, etc. It's BIG BUSINESS. Herbs are given to us in the Bible and since the FDA can't even regulate prescription drugs well, I don't plan on paying a dietician or Doctor to tell me what natural thing I can put in my mouth. The FDA is too busy cloning meat for me to eat. I guess I need to get my pen ready for a letter writing campaign and to Alfonsi's boss about her one-sided journalism style.

[charlesarno]

What fools we citizens be! Rep. Joe Barton (R; TX)manipulated Congressional vote counting at 3:08 A.M., Jan. 4, to overcome the NAY votes against S.3546.

Thus, as one of its closing acts, the 109th Congress passed the Dietary Supplements and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act, S.3546. If the President signs this bill into law, manufacturers of dietary supplements will be forced to comply with AER (Adverse Event Reporting). AER implements "guilt by association" that will enable any American who experiences a serious adverse event like a heart attack or stroke to blame their nutritional supplements--even if supplements had nothing to do with, and did not cause, these adverse events. There are 72 million serious adverse events that occur each year. Under S.3546, 42 million of these events will be associated with dietary supplements. (Source: An editorial sponsored by the Nutritional Health Alliance (NHA; January 2007)

Visit www.nha2007.com.

[deannem1]

As a pharmacist working in integrative medicine, I am very disappointed with CBS's one-sided view of supplements. I see patients daily who benefit more from the supplements they take than their prescribed medications. This is just another reason to watch ABC and Charlie Gibson!

[kugi1-2009]

I was very disappointed with the CBS News report on nutritional supplements. The book referenced in the report was clearly biased and with very little scientific credibility. Herbs have been used to treat ailments for thousands of years.

How about balancing your report with a discussion about the thousands of Americans that die from pharmaceuticals? You can also mention how the FDA approves drugs that harm people based only on testing performed by the drug industry itself?

[kugi1-2009]

I was very disappointed with the CBS News report on nutritional supplements. The book referenced in the report was clearly biased and with very little scientific credibility. Herbs have been used to treat ailments for thousands of years.

How about balancing your report with a discussion about the thousands of Americans that die from pharmaceuticals? You can also mention how the FDA approves drugs that harm people based only on testing performed by the drug industry itself?

[rayk469]

I was just wondering if Rupert Murdock had bought CBS. This story represents tabloid journalism at its best: no truth, exaggeration of fact, and outright scare tactics. Most disappointing. What happened to the CBS of the 1950s and 60s. We could trust you then. How sad.

[pm555--2008]

as a professions nurse, with many years of experience in public health, i have and taught a philosophy of self responsibility for one's health; a better philosphy than the one promoted by big pharma which is "pop a pill" to solve your health problem. as a senior citizen, who is approaching 75 yrs of age, i take no prescription medications regularly and avoid them unless absolutely necessary. i use herbs, supplements and essential oils instead. far more people die from prescription drugs than from the use of herbs and supplements. as usual, it is the bottom dollar that pushed for passage of this bill; money for big pharma (whose skewed studies that hide adverse effects and subsidize researchers and MDs to get desired study results) who pursued legislation for regulation of these products. we also deal with harmful cosmetics and polluted foods for the same reason.