Posted on 03/23/2008 11:02:28 AM PDT by Chickensoup
I am interested in finding out more about the origins of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. I notice that most OTC drugs do not give a country of manufacture but instead tell where the distributor is located. The drug itself could come from anywhere. I have not found the country of origin on any prescription drug in any of the literature. I think that this is important as we bring in more of our drugs from Asia and now that we have established the poor quality control in China that consumers know where their drugs are originating from.
This has been a question of mine for quite some time. I am interested in any information you find.
Ok. I am sure we must have some people who can add to this thread over the next few days.
Paging an expert. ping!
A friend’s Mother called Kroger to find out the country of origin for an OTC and they wouldn’t tell her.
Seriously, I've never even thought of that. Is there a 'pill pusher' ping list here Mr. Pharmacist?
Nam Vet
Here’s an article I bookmarked last year that probably provides some hints:
“Vitamin C prices have spiked this year. China controls 80 percent of the market.”
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0720/p01s01-woap.html
There have been several attempts at legislation to require that country of orgin be provided on more items, particularly imported food items. But lobbyists and bought and paid for congressmen and senators have managed to defeat most attempts . There were attempts to revive some of that legislation lately as more and more horror stories of lead paint and other problems with Chinese imports surfaced, but I haven’t heard how that fared.
This story of China cornering the market on Vitamin C is also a lesson for our resident free trade ideologues. Once a cheap labor nation like China has lured a big chunk of the production of a specific item, then the monopolistic instincts kick in and they begin to raise prices.
We’ll see more of that as more production is moved to the world’s cheapest labor. After all the destroyed industries in the US, and the lost jobs for families and communities, many products will be no cheaper than they were a decade or two ago when so-called free trade began to (predictably) destroy unprotected industries (yes, ‘free’ trade agreements protect some industries and expose others).
That one article contains many things to be thought about, by critical thinkers, not by a bunch of so-called free traders regurgitating what they heard some college economics professor say years ago.
Mine also. Basic chemicals such as Niacin, for example:
Company Zhoushan Xinzhou Fishmeal Equipment Factory
Contact Person Ms. Jane Bai
Telephone 86-580-8803-521
Fax Address 263 Xingzhou Avenue,, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China 3160041
OK. So much for that. How about Vitamin C?
Qingdao Samin Chemical Co., Ltd. is a reliable and highly competitive source for amino acids, vitamins, herbal extract, nutritional products, and related items. Our raw materials are sold to dietary supplement manufacturers, as well as nutraceutical, functional foods, cosmetics, and personal care enterprises.
OK, Forget that. How about Vitamin D?
Zhejiang Garden Biochemical High-Tech Stock Co., Ltd. [Province:Zhejiang]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK, Enough.
Thank you.
Are we able here at FR to push this? Let us find out more information and move this important issue that affects all Americans forward!
A friend’s Mother called Kroger to find out the country of origin for an OTC and they wouldn’t tell her.
I wonder if they knew?
But having socialized health care will fix all that, right?
It would be fascinatingly interesting to find out who the congress critters are who kiboshed the legistation. And the companies that the lobbyists are represnting.
But having socialized health care will fix all that, right?
We are doomed!
Seriously. This is an important issue.
Perhaps we need to know the otc American Manufacturers.
As well as prescriptions.
I imagine there is overlap.
I would like to purchase American made vitamins for one.
In fact this was on my mind yesterday when I viewed a TV Commercial for Walmart prescription drugs for $4.00. As they closed up on this woman stating how affordable (cheap) it is. I paused and wonder where are they getting these drugs from for them to offer them so very cheap.
“I would like to purchase American made vitamins..”
Me, too. Bookmarking in hopes of someone locating U.S. made vitimins.
Country of Origin is an ongoing issue in Congress because many consumers want it and most companies don’t. Here’s an article that gives a pretty good commentary on the general problem:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/07/12/2465/
And here’s a Google that shows there are many articles on the subject:
My concern is also what is really in them.
I recently took home some generic ibuprofen from Rite Aid. I looked at the dye covering them and swore I was looking at some poorly manufactered thrird world country med.
Walgreens sells a OTC Claritin. It is labeled as made in India
My prescription supplier (2 generic meds) Caremark will not tell me either but sends a statement that all are made in inspected plants approved by the FDA
Have you tried googling: American made vitamins?
Oh come on guys! Have you tried a search engine?
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