"Lack of scientific evidence or regulatory approval have not stopped dietary supplement companies from marketing Hoodia gordonii extracts with claims that it can lower blood pressure and reduce the appetite. Goen Technologies Corporation's TrimSpa unit began marketing Hoodia gordonii under the brand name X32 with celebrity spokesperson Anna Nicole Smith, even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified Trimspa that it has not demonstrated that claims for their product are scientifically supportable.[13] Health Canada has not approved any hoodia products for sale.[14] Goen Technologies has also been sued by the state of New Jersey for misleading consumers.[15] The Trimspa brand is currently the subject of a lawsuit in California which claims that it does not contain any of Hoodia's active ingredient.[11]
In March to June of 2006, billions of email spam messages were sent out concerning Hoodia, ostensibly offering Hoodia extracts for weight control purposes. As is usually the case with spam, it is not clear what prompted the sudden barrage of messages, since there had not been any recent positive media coverage about Hoodia, nor any signs of increasing public interest in Hoodia. The Federal Trade Commission has logged numerous complaints of consumer fraud associated with Hoodia and the number is expected to continue to rise.[11]
I found this fascinating, because the reason I went to look it up in the first place, what that I had TWO email messages this morning with "hoodia" in the title. It's March 2007 and the spammers are out again.
Also, it's March 8, one month since ANS death. Yesterday showed some hopeful signs that there are several investigations underway.
I don't even know what "hoodia" is, other than a supplement, but every time I hear the word I just about break up laughing.
If someone invented it, couldn't they have thought up a better name for it? That is just so ridiculous sounding. "Hoo, hoo, hoodia let the dogs out?"