What are your thoughts on the FDA and their aggressive actio
caseyp1122
Posts: 79 Member
I was watching CNN and they did a segment on the new HCG diet craze that's sweeping the nation. This got me thinking about the FDA as a whole. I really have issue with the government telling me what I can and cannot ingest in regards to my own physical fitness. I'm reminded of a few years ago when Ephedra was all the craze and I witnessed it work wonders on folks who had issues with weight loss and I certainly didn't know anyone who died from it but yet as quickly as it was proven effective, the FDA had it yanked off the shelves and banned. It seems with each supplement that comes out that proves to be effective for the masses the FDA highlights the incredibly small minority that suffer from negative side effects to make their case as to why it should be banned. Now I don't want to utilize the HCG diet as a primary example because the diet requires you to only consume 500 calories and we all know how incredibly dangerous that is but it definitely lays the ground work for the bigger picture debate.
Also, don't get me wrong, I don't advocate doing away with the FDA because they obviously do good things, but do you think the way they arbitrarily choose to ban supplements or support them is lobbyist driven or do you believe they actually have your best interests at heart? I'd like to hear your thoughts on this debate?
Also, don't get me wrong, I don't advocate doing away with the FDA because they obviously do good things, but do you think the way they arbitrarily choose to ban supplements or support them is lobbyist driven or do you believe they actually have your best interests at heart? I'd like to hear your thoughts on this debate?
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they need to stop taking our diet pills away! more people die on the roads so shall we bank them? small minded argument but I'm that way out today
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like most aspects of government i believe they have no right telling me or anyone for that matter what we can and cannot do with our bodies, our money, etc. Information is good, making people knowledgable on thing such as drugs and gimmicky fix quick solutions is great but then stepping forward and making the decision for us, NOT COOL.
Same idea with the four loco issue last year. so some dumbass college students drink too much and die, thats nothing new but it was the perfect excuse to ban the drink even though its still completely legal to buy alcohol and add as much caffiene as you want to it at home.
For being in the land of the 'free' we sure have a lot of people controlling every aspect of our lives.0 -
So imagine there's a product out there that kills 1 out of 10 people, but that helps the other 9 out of 10 get 5% better results from exercise.
Should that product be legal to sell? I'm going to guess your answer is no.
What if it was 1 out of 1,000,000,000 that dies? I'm going to guess your answer is yes.
So now we're just debating what is the 1 out of _______ number is that the FDA should set as its target?0 -
Keeley isn't it amazing that they are soo quick to ban supplements deeming them a danger to your life yet a new Mcdonalds or Burger King is built every 2 minutes. Certainly fast food doesn't instantly kill you but in my humble opinion it's way worse of an epidemic for an obese country than supplements used to help folks.0
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So imagine there's a product out there that kills 1 out of 10 people, but that helps the other 9 out of 10 get 5% better results from exercise.
Should that product be legal to sell? I'm going to guess your answer is no.
What if it was 1 out of 1,000,000,000 that dies? I'm going to guess your answer is yes.
So now we're just debating what is the 1 out of _______ number is that the FDA should set as its target?
Interesting point but refer to my fast food analogy and I think it "pushes back" to your point0 -
Ephedra is a pretty big stimulant. I used to boil my own tea (tastes like dirt) but I can understand how the FDA frowned on it. HCG is not even supposed to be used for dietary purposes. Preggo piss? Seriously?
FDA has the most strict regulations on the planet and I can see where you are coming from. But these two examples aren't really good ones to use.
Problem is, you need a degree in physiology to know what is good/bad for you. Just because it's on the market and is marketed as "this" or "that" doesn't mean it's healthy or not.
The FDA regulations on supplements is actually very lax vs regulations on things considered "food".0 -
If its processed, it should be ban. Its all about money if you haven't noticed! They don't care about you!0
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Jeff good points but I would argue that just because the FDA says something is bad for you doesn't necessarily make it true either. They are just as susceptible to special interest as any other branch of government.0
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exactly! Maybe the information given to us even isn't accurate. Watch Food Matter documentary or Food INC0
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like most aspects of government i believe they have no right telling me or anyone for that matter what we can and cannot do with our bodies, our money, etc. Information is good, making people knowledgable on thing such as drugs and gimmicky fix quick solutions is great but then stepping forward and making the decision for us, NOT COOL.
Same idea with the four loco issue last year. so some dumbass college students drink too much and die, thats nothing new but it was the perfect excuse to ban the drink even though its still completely legal to buy alcohol and add as much caffiene as you want to it at home.
For being in the land of the 'free' we sure have a lot of people controlling every aspect of our lives.
I completely agree with the four loco thing. How many college kids go out and drink everclear straight and died from alcohol poisining or went on to wrap themselves around a tree? I don't see that being banned.
I actually am being ID'd now for 5hr energy drinks too. I heard that you now have to be at least 15+ to be able to get them. Sure, I don't know why a 12yr old would be needing a 5hr energy drink, but I've been drinking coffee since I was very young. Seems like pretty soon you'll have to have your ID checked just to get coffee from a cafe0 -
regardless of the risks involved i still dont think the government should make the decision for me. I believe this with all drugs. if i want to use ectasy and i'm aware of the risks then why shouldnt i be allowed to? its not a drug that woudl hurt anyone but myself. (for the record i'm completely drug free).
The government has become our parents and by doing so has taken away personal responsibility. if i eat something i know doesnt' seem safe for me but the FDA hasn't banned it yet and i get sick i can blame them, when really the responsibility should be on the user since it was their ultimate decision.0 -
I think it's a great debate to have and like another poster pointed out my two examples may not be the greatest but it just highlights the issue at hand....0
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We need to clarify that FOOD is not regulated the same as supplements.0
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It's business. Follow the money. Whether it's HCG, ephedra, or kidney bean extract, if it interferes with big business' sales, the hammer will come down.0
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Keeley isn't it amazing that they are soo quick to ban supplements deeming them a danger to your life yet a new Mcdonalds or Burger King is built every 2 minutes. Certainly fast food doesn't instantly kill you but in my humble opinion it's way worse of an epidemic for an obese country than supplements used to help folks.
I don't see how these things are similar. In one hand you have chemicles that you are ingesting into your body with side effects, on the other hand you're talking about banning fat . . .
Now, if you went suppliments and other chemicles = tobacco products I'll hear you out on that one.0 -
Jeff good points but I would argue that just because the FDA says something is bad for you doesn't necessarily make it true either. They are just as susceptible to special interest as any other branch of government.
What would their incentive to ban these two substances?0 -
bump interesting discussion0
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Jeff right but the argument is still the same...If the government was truly concerned with the health of its citizenry then they would regulate them equally.0
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There is a big difference between Ephedra and HCG. Mainly that HCG does not DO anything. If it's unsafe AND it doesn't even DO anything like Ephedra did, there's no good reason for it to stay legal. And the fact that the whole marketting premise for HCG is a LIE. The companies say that it does something to aid in weightloss when in fact it does nothing. The FDA does not like companies lying about what their product actually does. Especially when it doesn't do anything.
I'm not saying the FDA is always right in it's decisions, but I completely understand why they are banning HCG.0 -
You are asking a lot of loaded questions here.
In regards to HCG, there is no HCG product out there that has been proven effective for weight loss compared to diet and exercise alone. The evidence simply isn’t there. It’s dangerous to sell something like this under the claims that it is safe and effective. The supplements themselves are not regulated, so they could contain harmful ingredients and not be labeled as such.
I’m not saying there aren’t problems with food and drug regulations in this country. There certainly are. I don’t think it’s fair to talk about how this is the “land of the free” and therefore we should get to do whatever we want and eat whatever we want. You don’t remove government organizations and de-regulate and suddenly everything is good to go.0 -
I Agree that the FDA needs to butt out when it comes so some diet pills as well as other medications. As a nurse, I see many people that could really benefit from the drugs and medications that the FDA frequestnly bands due to a small minority of people have an adverse reaction and possibly death from it. In those case, the individuals either had a preexisting condition that they didnt report or werent taking the drug properly. America is fat and getting Fatter. I frequently take care of patients that are over 300 pounds and it's tiring on them and me helping them move. FDA needs to crack down of the way food is made and distributed to the public. Its the food thats poisoning our society not the drugs that they feel they need to ban. If someone is deperate enough to lose weight and drink essentially a pregnant woman's urine to lose weigh, the more power to them.0
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Ephedra is a pretty big stimulant. I used to boil my own tea (tastes like dirt) but I can understand how the FDA frowned on it. HCG is not even supposed to be used for dietary purposes. Preggo piss? Seriously?
FDA has the most strict regulations on the planet and I can see where you are coming from. But these two examples aren't really good ones to use.
Problem is, you need a degree in physiology to know what is good/bad for you. Just because it's on the market and is marketed as "this" or "that" doesn't mean it's healthy or not.
The FDA regulations on supplements is actually very lax vs regulations on things considered "food".
Obviously missing the point of the discussion. Whether you personally believe HCG (which is NOT pee for goodness sake) is good or bad in general is not the point.
There seems to be a problem IMO when the government decides for us competent human beings as to whether it is "good" or "bad". IF I want to use a supplement--whatever it is---should be MY choice. I think a major problem is, though, when people use supplements, have bad results and then sue the place that sold it to them. Then the government decides it is their place to step in, I suppose. If I drink 30 gallons of water a day and drown myself, should I blame God for supplying me with the water? Or if I eat hagen daas all day every day and get sick from some obesity related issue, should I blame hagen daas?0 -
Jeff only the FDA knows, could be a competing product due to come out in a few months or any number of other things could be the incentive to ban it. Just playing devils advocate here.0
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regardless of the risks involved i still dont think the government should make the decision for me. I believe this with all drugs. if i want to use ectasy and i'm aware of the risks then why shouldnt i be allowed to? its not a drug that woudl hurt anyone but myself. (for the record i'm completely drug free).
The government has become our parents and by doing so has taken away personal responsibility. if i eat something i know doesnt' seem safe for me but the FDA hasn't banned it yet and i get sick i can blame them, when really the responsibility should be on the user since it was their ultimate decision.
Are you really willing to bear responsibility? The costs of the side effects, physical, mental, and economic? If taxpayers are going to be paying the bills (via Medicaid, Medicare, VA, Social Security disability benefits), shouldn't there be some limits?0 -
Jeff good points but I would argue that just because the FDA says something is bad for you doesn't necessarily make it true either. They are just as susceptible to special interest as any other branch of government.
That is not true. They don't just wait until someone comes around and tells them something is bad. They take legitimate complaints from private citizens, then contract laboratory studies to test the products. If the product does not meet certain predetermined specifications during testing, then the FDA considers a ban. They do not just arbitrarily ban a product because their competitor paid them. Actually, the problem that I have with the FDA is that they do not do enough testing when approving products... for example, they approved several SSRi's to be prescribed to children without fully testing their effects. Later, parents reported an increase in the instance of suicide in children prescribed SSRi's.0 -
Jeff right but the argument is still the same...If the government was truly concerned with the health of its citizenry then they would regulate them equally.
Essentially, you are asking the Gov't to regulate supplements as strict as food. ie.. MORE regulations.0 -
Ephedra is a pretty big stimulant. I used to boil my own tea (tastes like dirt) but I can understand how the FDA frowned on it. HCG is not even supposed to be used for dietary purposes. Preggo piss? Seriously?
FDA has the most strict regulations on the planet and I can see where you are coming from. But these two examples aren't really good ones to use.
Problem is, you need a degree in physiology to know what is good/bad for you. Just because it's on the market and is marketed as "this" or "that" doesn't mean it's healthy or not.
The FDA regulations on supplements is actually very lax vs regulations on things considered "food".
Obviously missing the point of the discussion. Whether you personally believe HCG (which is NOT pee for goodness sake) is good or bad in general is not the point.
There seems to be a problem IMO when the government decides for us competent human beings as to whether it is "good" or "bad". IF I want to use a supplement--whatever it is---should be MY choice. I think a major problem is, though, when people use supplements, have bad results and then sue the place that sold it to them. Then the government decides it is their place to step in, I suppose. If I drink 30 gallons of water a day and drown myself, should I blame God for supplying me with the water? Or if I eat hagen daas all day every day and get sick from some obesity related issue, should I blame hagen daas?
If God lied to you and said that drinking 30 gallons of water would be good for you, then yeah you should blame God.0 -
regardless of the risks involved i still dont think the government should make the decision for me. I believe this with all drugs. if i want to use ectasy and i'm aware of the risks then why shouldnt i be allowed to? its not a drug that woudl hurt anyone but myself. (for the record i'm completely drug free).
The government has become our parents and by doing so has taken away personal responsibility. if i eat something i know doesnt' seem safe for me but the FDA hasn't banned it yet and i get sick i can blame them, when really the responsibility should be on the user since it was their ultimate decision.
Are you really willing to bear responsibility? The costs of the side effects, physical, mental, and economic? If taxpayers are going to be paying the bills (via Medicaid, Medicare, VA, Social Security disability benefits), shouldn't there be some limits?
I think to assume she's a beneficiary of those benefits and thus her choices have a direct affect is a fallacy.0 -
Jeff only the FDA knows, could be a competing product due to come out in a few months or any number of other things could be the incentive to ban it. Just playing devils advocate here.
I actually wrote an entire college term paper on the process with which the FDA uses for approving and banning products... particularly psychiatric meds. While I can agree that the FDA's processes are somewhat ineffecient, and leave people a little too open to risk, it is certainly not intentional.0 -
regardless of the risks involved i still dont think the government should make the decision for me. I believe this with all drugs. if i want to use ectasy and i'm aware of the risks then why shouldnt i be allowed to? its not a drug that woudl hurt anyone but myself. (for the record i'm completely drug free).
Well, the good news is that we live in a democracy that (like almost all) dismiss these types of arguments. Illegal drugs are illegal for good reasons, not because the government is just a meanie-poo.0
This discussion has been closed.
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