FDA News Digest April 5, 2004 ______________________________________________________________ THIS WEEK'S NEWS -- FDA Warns Supplement Companies About False Weight-Loss Claims -- Qualified Claim Allowed Linking Walnuts to Reduced Heart Disease Risk -- FDA Takes Measures in Response to Illegal Hormone Use in Veal Calves -- New Page Answers Questions About Bird Flu and Potential Risk to Eggs -- Recalls/Market Withdrawals -- Public Health Notification -- FDA Congressional Testimony -- Public Meetings ______________________________________________________________ FDA Warns Supplement Companies About False Weight-Loss Claims FDA has warned 16 dietary supplement distributors that they must correct false and misleading claims for weight-loss products promoted online. Many of these products claim to block starch, carbohydrates and fat calories while allowing consumers to lose weight without any lifestyle changes. After reviewing the product claims, FDA concluded that they were not supported by reliable scientific evidence, a legal requirement for making such claims. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01045.html Qualified Label Claim Allowed Linking Walnuts to Reduced Heart Disease Risk As part of its efforts to promote healthier dietary choices, FDA will now allow a "qualified health claim" that links eating walnuts to a reduced risk of heart disease. Though FDA will require labels with the claim to point out that current research on the health benefits of walnuts is "supportive, but not conclusive," the agency believes such information can help consumers improve their diets. The claim must state that to gain the beneficial health effects, walnuts must be eaten as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and eating them should not increase overall caloric intake. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01044.html FDA Takes Measures in Response to Illegal Hormone Use in Veal Calves FDA is taking safety measures in response to the unapproved use at two Wisconsin plants of growth-promoting hormones in calves being processed for veal. FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are investigating the matter to determine the extent of illegal hormone use in the veal calf industry. Further, FDA has issued guidance to the veal industry to ensure that food from veal calves will pose no risk to human health. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01046.html New Web Page Answers Questions About 'Bird Flu' and Potential Risk to Eggs FDA has created a Web page to answer questions about avian influenza, or "bird flu," which can cause disease in domestic poultry. The viruses that cause bird flu have rarely infected humans, but severe, even fatal, cases have occurred abroad over the last seven years. The page explains precautions to ensure that the bird flu virus is destroyed in eggs and egg products from infected poultry. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/avfluqa.html ______________________________________________________________ RECALLS/MARKET WITHDRAWALS The following products are being recalled for the reasons shown. Go to the linked page for more information. DeMoulas & Market Basket Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix; 32-oz. box (undeclared egg) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/demoulas03_04.html Pride of Africa, Tropical Foods and Loty Brand Pounded Yam Flour (undeclared sulfites) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/raymond03_04.html ______________________________________________________________ PUBLIC HEALTH NOTIFICATION Paralysis from Absorbable Hemostatic Agent http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/040204-hemostatics.html ______________________________________________________________ FDA CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY FDA Office of Drug Evaluation II Director Robert J. Meyer, M.D.; before the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources; subject: the need for a science-based approach to evaluating medicinal marijuana (April 1) http://www.fda.gov/ola/2004/marijuana0401.html FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Director Robert E. Brackett, Ph.D.; before the House Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization; subject: the federal food safety system (March 30) http://www.fda.gov/ola/2004/foodsafety0330.html To view the text of past FDA testimony, go to http://www.fda.gov/ola/listing.html ______________________________________________________________ PUBLIC MEETINGS April 14 -- Meeting for the public to present information related to how prescription drugs could be imported safely and what the consequences would be for American patients. http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/04-6145.htm For a list of upcoming FDA meetings, seminars, and other public events, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/hpmeetings.html. ______________________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to FDA News Digest. Our next posting will be April 12. To leave this list at any time, send an e-mail to LISTSERV@xxxxxxxxxxxx In the body of the message, write SIGNOFF FDA-NEWSDIGEST-L
