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Study: Many herbal supplements aren't what the label says
AP via Yahoo! Finance ^ | February 3, 2015 | Mary Esch

Posted on 02/05/2015 12:56:49 PM PST by Slings and Arrows

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Bottles of Walmart-brand echinacea, an herb said to ward off colds, were found to contain no echinacea at all. GNC-brand bottles of St. John's wort, touted as a cure for depression, held rice, garlic and a tropical houseplant, but not a trace of the herb.

In fact, DNA testing on hundreds of bottles of store-brand herbal supplements sold as treatments for everything from memory loss to prostate trouble found that four out of five contained none of the herbs on the label. Instead, they were packed with cheap fillers such as wheat, rice, beans or houseplants.

(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: cheapbrands; falseadvertisement; herbs; snakeoil; snakeoila; supplements; vitamins
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To: Star Traveler

Think about a fraud that works. Where’s the harm?

I tell you I can diviner a Spanish silver mine. You pay me a million. I know I can’t do it. I’m a fake, but I go out with you and walk my diviner rod right into a Spanish sliver mine.

I’m shocked and confess to being a fake. What charge do you bring before the court?


21 posted on 02/05/2015 1:37:23 PM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Why would the New York attorney general choose to commission Biologist James Schulte as their “expert in DNA technology”? This guy has authored or coauthored about 50 papers on Lizards. Does New york state have no “Plant Genetics” experts in their university system?


22 posted on 02/05/2015 1:39:10 PM PST by joshhiggins
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To: 1010RD

As I said ... it very simply comes down to the “labeling” ... or better known as “truth in labeling”. You either have truth in labeling or else labeling is useless.


23 posted on 02/05/2015 1:42:21 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: 1010RD

“If people were defrauded let them sue.”

The idiots are so brainwashed they think the scam stuff works.

Like my wife’s daughter says: “I did my research. There are lots of articles on the internet.”

Not to mention the 24/7 TV commercials.

Oh yeah, it has to work. Dr. Oz says so.


24 posted on 02/05/2015 1:43:52 PM PST by TexasGator
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To: Star Traveler

There is only truth and anything less is a lie, but we’re discussing the law.


25 posted on 02/05/2015 1:44:33 PM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: TexasGator
Dr oz ...

if there is a count going on, we must be up to ... I don't know ... 7 or 8 thousand absolutely MUST have in your diet/routine supliments/natural 'foods' for better pooping ...

and he's STILL full of shit

26 posted on 02/05/2015 1:48:05 PM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but, they're true)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

Herbs, homeopathy, biotics.

Amazing how brainwashed people are.


27 posted on 02/05/2015 1:48:36 PM PST by TexasGator
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To: 1010RD

The law is simply that if the label says it’s there, it better be there ... :-) ...


28 posted on 02/05/2015 1:49:43 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Star Traveler

“The law is simply that if the label says it’s there, it better be there ... :-) “

But the label doesn’t say how much is there and what else is there.


29 posted on 02/05/2015 2:01:02 PM PST by TexasGator
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To: TexasGator

I haven’t looked at that particular label, but the labels I look at ... in terms of the active ingredient that I’m getting (whatever that might be) it has always said what the quantity is. At least that is what I buy, anyway.

THAT would be ONE CLUE that would tell me to NOT buy the product, when the active ingredient that I’m buying isn’t clearly identified as to the exact quantity in the pill or bottle or liquid (depending on what it is).

SO ... let that be a warnings me to people ... if they don’t tell you exactly how much is there ... DON’T BUY IT! ... :-) ...


30 posted on 02/05/2015 2:09:47 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Star Traveler

Labeling laws are just meddlesome regulation. Let the market rule.


31 posted on 02/05/2015 2:37:22 PM PST by Wolfie
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To: Slings and Arrows

I thought it was strange that Germany has herbals approved for sale by the FDA but after this, now I know why.


32 posted on 02/05/2015 2:37:24 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: Wolfie

I’m 100% behind labeling as that serves the market in making the determination.


33 posted on 02/05/2015 2:40:45 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Slings and Arrows

I smell dog sized rats with this.

To start with, big pharma has been trying to totally wipe out the supplements industry for a long time, and have been particularly dishonest about doing so. In recent years, they have gone so far as to say that vitamins should be banned unless through a doctor’s prescription (at 10x-1000x the cost, unsaid).

And they have come very close to their goal several times. During at least two of these, only senator Orrin Hatch stood in their way.

In past, claims that OTC supplements were adulterated or counterfeit have been used before. And the major producers of supplements have gone to lengths to insure their products are what they say they are. Including using independent quality control testing organizations.

So let’s allow this sensational headline to rest a while and see if it holds up under scrutiny.


34 posted on 02/05/2015 3:39:55 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("Don't compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative." -Obama, 09-24-11)
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To: TexasGator

“Herbs, homeopathy, biotics.”

Herbs are the basis of many drugs.
Homeopathy sounds weird, but at least some of it works.
Biotics - don’t know that one.


35 posted on 02/05/2015 5:04:02 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion ( "Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal.")
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

“Homeopathy sounds weird, but at least some of it works.”

ROTFLMAO ....


36 posted on 02/05/2015 6:10:28 PM PST by TexasGator
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To: Slings and Arrows

I’ll bet almost any amount of money that they suppliers are in china.


37 posted on 02/05/2015 6:27:30 PM PST by zeugma (The act of observing disturbs the observed.)
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To: TexasGator


ROTFLMAO ....

I’ve used Traumeel cream on a sprained ankle and the swelling went down within 35-40 minutes. I’ve seen it work on my kids too. By what mechanism or avenue of approach? Got me.


38 posted on 02/05/2015 6:32:49 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion ( "Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal.")
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To: goodwithagun

Prescription drugs kill 38 times more people than gunshots.


39 posted on 02/05/2015 6:35:50 PM PST by csmusaret (Will remove Obama-Biden bumperstickers for $10)
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To: zeugma

The majority of all prescription drugs are made in whole or in part with ingredients from China.


40 posted on 02/05/2015 6:41:22 PM PST by csmusaret (Will remove Obama-Biden bumperstickers for $10)
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