primitives getting hysterical over FDA regulating vitamins, supplements, herbs

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x83408

Oh my.

HysteryDiagnosis (1000+ posts)      Wed Feb-24-10 08:03 PM
THE HYSTERICAL PRIMITIVE
Original message

DSSA, making healthcare unafordable for everyone.

http://www.lef.org/featured-articles/Dont-Give-FDA-More...

The Dietary Supplement Safety Act will give the FDA discretionary authority to ban any supplement it chooses. What some have yet to comprehend is the horrific way the FDA has historically abused powers Congress bestows them.

By way of example, we at Life Extension were subjected to a rigorous inspection by the FDA in year 2003. The FDA investigator spent an inordinate amount of time reviewing our eye drop products. When we asked why out of all our products the eye drops were being so heavily scrutinized, the response was “because I can.”

What this FDA agent was telling us was that since the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the FDA’s power to regulate dietary supplements was limited. This act did not apply to eye drops. The result was that our statements about eye drop products could be censored, and since the FDA had the power to do it, they used it.

Until you’ve been on the front line, it is difficult to imagine the egregious ways that government agencies abuse their powers.

I was in a Walgreens last week picking up some pictures, when a recorded voice came on to the store’s speaker system announcing the heart healthy benefits of fish oil and CoQ10.

This brought a flashback to the year 1987 when FDA agents stormed Life Extension’s premises and seized these supplements, along with a brochure that described how they could help protect against heart attack.

Accompanied by armed US marshals, I vividly recall FDA agents ridiculing me about the concept that fish oil had any relationship to cardiac disorders. The sad fact in this story is the millions of heart attacks suffered by Americans because the FDA had the power for so long to censor the truth about omega-3 supplements.

Before DSHEA was passed in 1994, the FDA routinely seized dietary supplements when a health claim was made. Some individuals have apparently forgotten the past and are determined to relive it by not understanding the unintended consequences of the Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010.

semillama  (1000+ posts)      Thu Feb-25-10 11:59 AM
THE SALMONELLA PRIMITIVE
Response to Original message
 
1. I don't know, I think I'd like to know two things about a supplement:

A. it actually does what it claims

and

B. What exactly is in it, and that there is no significant variation in efficacy between bottles or even individual doses.

Seems like a good idea to me.

HysteryDiagnosis (1000+ posts)      Thu Feb-25-10 07:56 PM
THE HYSTERICAL PRIMITIVE
Response to Reply #1

3. It's what it may do to the prices and the availability that scares the heck out of me.

semillama  (1000+ posts)      Fri Feb-26-10 12:30 PM
THE SALMONELLA PRIMITIVE
Response to Reply #3

5. How would it be any different than for any other OTC medication, though?

Seems like a fear-mongering argument pushed by Big Herbal, similar to the "Dem'crats gonna take our GUNS!" BS the NRA and gun manufacturers pass, to boost sales ("stock up before them dem'crats take your guns/supplements!") and to avoid safety regulations that they would then be accountable to.

Quantess  (1000+ posts)      Fri Feb-26-10 01:18 AM
Response to Original message
 
4. I don't like this...

Now, franksolich, who has no dog in this fight, is greatly confused.

Aren't the primitives always in favor of governmental regulation excepting for regulations regarding abortion?

I dunno why the primitives are objecting to regulation here.

[thundley4]

It might be that some currently legal supplements provide recreational uses when not used in the proper way. They want to keep those legal and available.

[Celtic Rose]

There is a group within liberalism who is highly suspicious of all western medicine.  They are the ones who believe that "Big-Pharma" has everybody in the medical industry nicely in their pockets, including the FDA.  

[franksolich]

There is a group within liberalism who is highly suspicious of all western medicine.  They are the ones who believe that "Big-Pharma" has everybody in the medical industry nicely in their pockets, including the FDA.

Did you notice the salmonella primitive using the term "Big Herbal"?

[thundley4]

Did you notice the salmonella primitive using the term "Big Herbal"?

These damn lazy DUmmies need to educate themselves so they can grow or find their own "herbs" out in the wild.

[Carl]

HysteryDiagnosis (1000+ posts)      Thu Feb-25-10 07:56 PM
THE HYSTERICAL PRIMITIVE
Response to Reply #1

3. It's what it may do to the prices and the availability that scares the heck out of me.

Yet in your next breath will blame the "corporations" for making health care expensive and declare government is the solution.

Idiots.

[Freeper]

Interesting they believe that the govt meddling will increase costs for herbal remedies but, believe the govt meddling in health care will bring costs down. 

[GOBUCKS]

Interesting they believe that the govt meddling will increase costs for herbal remedies but, believe the govt meddling in health care will bring costs down. 

The fact that they can draw a connection between "herbal remedies" and health care is enough evidence of DUmmitude.

[Freeper]

The fact that they can draw a connection between "herbal remedies" and health care is enough evidence of DUmmitude.

Everyday they give us justification for calling them DUmmies.

[DumbAss Tanker]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x83408

Oh my.

Now, franksolich, who has no dog in this fight, is greatly confused.

Aren't the primitives always in favor of governmental regulation excepting for regulations regarding abortion?

I dunno why the primitives are objecting to regulation here.

Amusing, is it not?

 

[miskie]

Amusing, is it not?

 

Yet the 'morans' fail to grasp that this is just going to get worse with Obamedicine -- EVERYTHING will be regulated and distributed according to a predetermined set of rules..

Can't have that nasty free market using its homeopathic alternatives, can we ?

[jukin]

I don't know about the causes for regulation but I do know that this will double or triple the prices.

Mark my words.

[JohnnyReb]

I don't know what their questions are but I bet "pot" is the answer.

[ColonialMarine0431]

Gee.

I thought DUmmies loved Big Brother dictating to them how to live their lives. After all, how are we gonna wipe our asses unless BB tells us how?

[Freeper]

Gee.

I thought DUmmies loved Big Brother dictating to them how to live their lives. After all, how are we gonna wipe our asses unless BB tells us how?

Yeah Obama has increased toilet paper rations from 2 sheets to one sheet. This is doubleplus good.