U.S. FDA warns Web sites over weight loss claims

U.S. FDA warns Web sites over weight loss claims

Reuters, 04.01.04, 6:34 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "Eat all you want!" "Watch the fat disappear!" "Block
the starch and lose weight!"

These and other similar weight loss claims for some dietary supplements can
cause "unfounded hope" and must be removed from Web sites that use them, the
Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday.

The agency said it sent warning letters to 16 Web sites that promoted
certain products as blocking carbohydrates, starch and calories from fat
without noting the need to make lifestyle changes, like exercising or eating
a healthy diet.

"These products give unfounded hope to people who are attempting to lose
weight," Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford said in a statement.

"False and misleading claims have significant health consequences to
individuals that may be overweight because these products do not produce the
desired results," he said.

The letters are part of ongoing FDA efforts to fight obesity as well as
prevent companies from making untrue claims about dietary supplements, the
agency said.

The Web sites have 15 days to respond to the agency and outline their plans
to remove the claims. If they do not, the FDA can seize the firms' supplies,
impose fines and take other enforcement actions.

eVitamins.com, weightlossguide.com and VitaMaker.com are among the sites
cited by the FDA. Several sites could not immediately be reached for
comment.
--
Ken

"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some
kind of federal program."

-Bushism's, 2000