Health Topics
FTC & FDA Act Against Internet Vendors of Fraudulent Diabetes Cures & Treatments
Part of Coordinated Effort by US, Mexico & Canada
Costa Mesa, CA, USA - Medical Industry E-mail News Service™ - OCT 19, 2006 -- Today the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), working with government agencies in Mexico and Canada, launched a drive to stop deceptive Internet advertisements and sales of products misrepresented as cures or treatments for diabetes.
The ongoing joint campaign has so far included approx. 180 warning letters and other advisories sent to online outlets in the 3 countries.
Today, the FDA announced it has issued warning letters to 24 firms marketing dietary supplement products with claims to treat, cure, prevent or mitigate
diabetes.
The FDA letters warn firms that failure to promptly correct the violations may result in enforcement action without further notice. This may include seizure of violative products and/or injunctions against the manufacturers and distributors.
The FDA has developed a strategy to focus its enforcement efforts in the area of dietary supplements, and today’s announcement is one important action under that strategy. The strategy was designed to address illegal dietary supplement ingredients, plus ensure integrity and truthful labeling of dietary supplements. One emphasis is on claims aimed at patients with serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Within the last 12 months, the FDA has sent over 100 warning letters and other advisories to Internet firms and has seized products at 1 firm.
The joint diabetes initiative to stop commercial sale of fraudulent therapies originated with a Web surf for “hidden traps” by the International Consumer Protection & Enforcement Network (ICPEN), an organization of law enforcement authorities, members of the Mexico, US and Canada Health Fraud Working Group (MUCH), and the attorneys general offices of AK, MI, OH, VA and WI. MUCH, which consists of regulatory officials from health, consumer and competition protection agencies in the 3 North American countries, had previously conducted a campaign against fraudulent weight-loss products.
Using the results of the Internet sweep, the FTC sent warning letters for deceptive ads to 84 domestic and 7 Canadian websites targeting US consumers, and referred an additional 21 sites to foreign governments. About 1/4 of the firms have already changed their claims or removed their pages from the Internet, and several others are in contact with the FTC.
“We will continue working with our partners in the US and internationally to make sure scammers have no place to hide,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The Internet can be a great source of information, but it also is a billboard for ads that promise miracle cures for diabetes and other serious diseases. Our advice to consumers: ‘Be smart, be skeptical’ when evaluating health claims online.”
“We will not tolerate practices that raise false hopes and bilk consumers of precious health care dollars,” said Margaret O’K. Glavin, FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs. “Diabetes requires effective treatments and aggressive management, not bogus and unproven products.”
One component is a “teaser” website. At first glance, the site appears to be advertising a cure for diabetes called Glucobate, but when consumers click for more information on ordering the product, it reveals information about avoiding ads for phony cure-alls in the future. The new education materials, including a bookmark and consumer alert, are being introduced in time for Diabetes Awareness Month in Nov 2006. The American Dietetic Association has agreed to help disseminate the information.
In addition, the FDA maintains special websites, which amplify the agency’s counsel to consumers to check with their doctor, nurse or pharmacist before trying any new health care product. These materials cover a broad range of subjects of special interest to diabetes patients: diabetes information, diabetes pills, diabetes briefly explained, as well as more general health care information.
The FTC is also announcing today a new consumer education campaign to teach consumers how to avoid phony diabetes cures. The materials encourage consumers to “Be smart, be skeptical.
FTC & FDA Act Against Internet Vendors of Fraudulent Diabetes Cures & Treatments
Part of Coordinated Effort by US, Mexico & Canada
Costa Mesa, CA, USA - Medical Industry E-mail News Service™ - OCT 19, 2006 -- Today the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), working with government agencies in Mexico and Canada, launched a drive to stop deceptive Internet advertisements and sales of products misrepresented as cures or treatments for diabetes.
The ongoing joint campaign has so far included approx. 180 warning letters and other advisories sent to online outlets in the 3 countries.
Today, the FDA announced it has issued warning letters to 24 firms marketing dietary supplement products with claims to treat, cure, prevent or mitigate
diabetes.
The FDA letters warn firms that failure to promptly correct the violations may result in enforcement action without further notice. This may include seizure of violative products and/or injunctions against the manufacturers and distributors.
The FDA has developed a strategy to focus its enforcement efforts in the area of dietary supplements, and today’s announcement is one important action under that strategy. The strategy was designed to address illegal dietary supplement ingredients, plus ensure integrity and truthful labeling of dietary supplements. One emphasis is on claims aimed at patients with serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Within the last 12 months, the FDA has sent over 100 warning letters and other advisories to Internet firms and has seized products at 1 firm.
The joint diabetes initiative to stop commercial sale of fraudulent therapies originated with a Web surf for “hidden traps” by the International Consumer Protection & Enforcement Network (ICPEN), an organization of law enforcement authorities, members of the Mexico, US and Canada Health Fraud Working Group (MUCH), and the attorneys general offices of AK, MI, OH, VA and WI. MUCH, which consists of regulatory officials from health, consumer and competition protection agencies in the 3 North American countries, had previously conducted a campaign against fraudulent weight-loss products.
Using the results of the Internet sweep, the FTC sent warning letters for deceptive ads to 84 domestic and 7 Canadian websites targeting US consumers, and referred an additional 21 sites to foreign governments. About 1/4 of the firms have already changed their claims or removed their pages from the Internet, and several others are in contact with the FTC.
“We will continue working with our partners in the US and internationally to make sure scammers have no place to hide,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The Internet can be a great source of information, but it also is a billboard for ads that promise miracle cures for diabetes and other serious diseases. Our advice to consumers: ‘Be smart, be skeptical’ when evaluating health claims online.”
“We will not tolerate practices that raise false hopes and bilk consumers of precious health care dollars,” said Margaret O’K. Glavin, FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs. “Diabetes requires effective treatments and aggressive management, not bogus and unproven products.”
One component is a “teaser” website. At first glance, the site appears to be advertising a cure for diabetes called Glucobate, but when consumers click for more information on ordering the product, it reveals information about avoiding ads for phony cure-alls in the future. The new education materials, including a bookmark and consumer alert, are being introduced in time for Diabetes Awareness Month in Nov 2006. The American Dietetic Association has agreed to help disseminate the information.
In addition, the FDA maintains special websites, which amplify the agency’s counsel to consumers to check with their doctor, nurse or pharmacist before trying any new health care product. These materials cover a broad range of subjects of special interest to diabetes patients: diabetes information, diabetes pills, diabetes briefly explained, as well as more general health care information.
The FTC is also announcing today a new consumer education campaign to teach consumers how to avoid phony diabetes cures. The materials encourage consumers to “Be smart, be skeptical.