US Federal Judge Reverses Ban on Deadly Diet Supplement

Money Talks Yet Once Again. With 2003 estimated sales in excess
of $1.2 Billion US Dollars, a dietary supplement purported to be
responsible for numerous deaths, is now back on the market. The
FDA, following concerns raised by the medical community, over
the deaths of several athletic individuals using the supplement,
not just “couch potatoes” gallantly attempting to return to a
more active and fit lifestyle, passed motion to ban the “diet
miracle” fat burner. The 2003 death of 23-year-old Baltimore
Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler, resulted in a slew of negative
publicity that lead to declining sales of diet and sports
supplements containing the compound. Based on data collected
from several poison control centers, a group of California based
researchers had claimed the compound to be the most dangerous
herbal product on the market. Because it is an herb, it was not
subject to regulations governing pharmaceutical drugs and could
be sold over-the-counter. This is still the case today. The
government’s decision to ban the supplement actually came late
in 2003. According to the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group
in Washington, D.C., More than 150 deaths have been linked to
the use of the compound in recent years. Tommy Thompson, Health
and Human Services Secretary at the time, said the government
had enough evidence to confirm the supplement was so powerful it
quite readily caused heart attacks. Thompson announced a
“Consumer Alert” warning against the use of all products
containing the herb in any form, further stating the agency had
notified manufacturers of its intent to publish a final rule
banning the sale of supplements containing the compound. The ban
followed the government review of more than 16,000 reports of
adverse events, Thompson said. The actual ban was issued in
February 2004. In the typical grandiose style of US capitalism
at it’s finest, the powerful lobbyist groups representing the
interests of the diet and supplement industries, flexed their
muscles and went to battle. April 14, 2005, federal judge Tena
Campbell of the Utah federal district court reversed the ban …
for the complete story, and to discover the name of the
compound, and more facts, both pros and cons… visit with DocStuey and read the
full report at Diets Health and Wellness
Facts

Doc
Stuey

Copyright (H.Brett) 2005

For more facts about deadly supplements in the news, see this
recent article title “New Study, Proof That
Vitamin E Kills”?

Ephedrine is a widely used alkaloid of Ma Huang (Ephedra Sinica,
Botanical Family Ephedraceae)

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