{"id":17538,"date":"2015-11-18T12:31:26","date_gmt":"2015-11-18T20:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=17538"},"modified":"2015-11-18T12:31:26","modified_gmt":"2015-11-18T20:31:26","slug":"citing-health-concerns-feds-crackdown-on-100-dietary-supplement-manufacturers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=17538","title":{"rendered":"Citing Health Concerns, Feds Crackdown on 100 Dietary Supplement Manufacturers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"fda\"<\/a>Federal officials announced this week a nationwide crackdown on more than 100 dietary supplemental manufacturers resulting in the filing of criminal and civil proceedings against these defendants after a year-long investigation.<\/p>\n

The dietary supplement is causing concern among health officials throughout the country, officials said.<\/p>\n

In each case, the department or one of its federal partners allege the following:<\/strong> \u00a0“the sale of supplements that contain ingredients other than those listed on the product label or the sale of products that make health or disease treatment claims that are unsupported by adequate scientific evidence.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Among the cases announced is a criminal case charging USPlabs LLC<\/strong> and several of its corporate officers.<\/p>\n

USPlabs was known for its widely popular workout and weight loss supplements, which it sold under names such as Jack3d<\/strong> and OxyElite Pro.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The sweep includes federal court cases in 18 states.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Justice Department and its federal partners have joined forces to bringing to justice companies and individuals who profit from products that threaten consumer health,\u201d said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Mizer<\/strong>.\u00a0 \u201cThe USPlabs case and others brought as part of this sweep illustrate alarming practices the department found\u2014practices that must be brought to the public\u2019s attention so consumers know the serious health risks of untested products.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the period of the sweep, 117 individuals and entities were served with criminal and civil enforcement actions.\u00a0 Of these, 89 cases were filed in November 2014.<\/p>\n

The FDA continues to warn consumers about the risks associated with some over-the-counter products, falsely marketed as dietary supplements, which contain hidden active ingredients that could be harmful, officials said.<\/p>\n

In the last year, the agency has warned of more than 100 products found to contain hidden active ingredients. These products are most frequently marketed for sexual enhancement, weight loss and body building, according to authorities<\/p>\n

\u201cThis joint agency effort is a testament to our commitment to protecting consumers from potentially unsafe dietary supplements and products falsely marketed as dietary supplements,\u201d said Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy Howard Sklamberg of the Food and Drug Administration<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cThe criminal charges against USPlabs should serve as notice to industry that if products are a threat to public health, the FDA will exercise its full authority under the law to bring justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Within the last year, officials said the FDA also sent warning letters to manufacturers selling dietary supplements that contain BMPEAand DMBA, two ingredients that do not meet the statutory definition of a dietary ingredient as well as to several companies selling pure powdered caffeine products that the agency determined to be dangerous and present a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury to consumers.<\/p>\n

Criminal Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n