Herbal supplements in US commonly have traces of contaminants

Anything sold to the public should be subject to over site and regulation. However, the bureaucracy and interest driven process of the FDA is seriously flawed. Do you think that the lobbyists from Phizer and Glaxo/Smith are more interested in public health or the $25 billion in annual supplement sales?The FDA finally awarded a GRAS designation for Stevia in 2009. This is a sweetener that has been used by millions of people for thousands of years. Were they protecting the people or the sugar industry?This may be a cynical take on it but I think the real problem stems from our tendency to look to the govt to protect us from our own ignorance. They should, by all means, provide the information and then let people make their own decisions. Nannies are for children.

That is naive in the extreme.Annual Causes of Death in the United StatesTobacco 435,000
Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity 365,000
Alcohol 85,000
Microbial Agents 75,000
Toxic Agents 55,000
Motor Vehicle Crashes 26,347
Adverse Reactions to Prescription Drugs 32,000
Suicide 30,622
Incidents Involving Firearms 29,000
Homicide 20,308
Sexual Behaviors 20,000
All Illicit Drug Use, Direct and Indirect 17,000
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Such As Aspirin 7,600
Marijuana 0Drug Policy Facts | Knowledge Is Power

Nator is saying that we need more regulation. I am pointing out that fully regulated products like tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs and aspirin kill alot of people every year. I understand that it is not that straight forward and we need some of the good powerful drugs that dont grow in the garden.I am saying that the regulatory structure has lost credibility and that this is a much larger problem than trace elements found in the herbals. The contamination possibly coming from the soil and water in Illinois or Omaha.Information should be increased and regulation decreased.I am also saying that big business is culpable because big business is always culpable. Pharmaceutical corps spend something like $900 million a year on lobbying and the govt does what it can for them. The regulators are in the pocket of big business. Maybe it should work like that.

Because it increases freedom and self dependency and it reduces bureaucracy and corruption.

Yeah I answered too quickly this morning. See message 13. How do I link that again?

You dont see how less regulation = more freedom? Or less bureaucracy?

I am not calling for no regulation. I am saying the regulation system is messed up.

I will give a general reply because I think that I generally agree with the points being made. I should mention that I live in Canada where all the drugs are free and the supplementals are pure as the driven snow. /sarc There are alot of differences but there are alot of similarities and the pressures are the same.If I ingest a herb I know what it is, where it came from and what it can and cannot do. More information to help me know these things. If I dont know these things I dont take it. I dont buy Chinese toothpaste or dog food or drywall or cranberry extract. I am equally sceptical about a doctor who prescribes steroids for my kid.My point is that the regulations wont make you safe because the system is seriously flawed and is driven by the wrong interests. Information makes you safe AND free. Why should a start up company have to spend millions on testing to sell mint tea and does this make you safe?Nobody wants viagra mixed in with their dandelions so how about not trading with countries that dont meet the existing standards? Because there is too much money in it and nobody really gives a shit about a few dead folks here and there when there are billions at stake.

What?!? Thats outrageous. You guys need some kind of regulations.

Still. More information less regulation.

The free market. Nothing motivates a company like profit and profits come from building a loyal customer base. Cant do that if they keep dropping off.Information. Like what were the products tested in the study cited? You can be sure that their sales would plummet.

None?The free market requires the regulations that keep it free. A market full of monopolies is no longer a free market.I am saying that the individual should be more responsible for the things they eat and the govt should help them make those decisions by providing them with information. Not by telling them what they should do.

I can and its Jamieson. If I read something tomorrow about them lacing their vitamin C with viagra you can bet they will be off the shelf. Where am I going to hear it from? The same place I hear about Atomoxetine (Strattera) causing kids to off themselves.Sorry - we can't find that pageI agree with the rest of your post especially this

My point was that alot of people die from regulated drugs. Regulations dont protect you as much as information does. Thats probably another thread but the regulation of mj has killed alot more people than the plant itself. I dont know that that is fair but you can protect yourself against it with information.

Good morning. No that doesnt follow. The tests show their efficacy. The regulations control their availability and direct their use. IMHO this is not the govt's job. Again, I am not saying that there should be NO regulation. Regulations can keep you safe the same way that staying inside keeps you from being hit by a car. Informed decisions maintain your safety and freedom.Thalidomide is a good example of a drug that was approved for use in Canada and caused massive damage. Thousands of doctors prescribed it thinking that it was safe because the CMA or whoever said so.I dont think we are that far apart. I am arguing against a culture of relying on others to do your thinking for you. We have it bad up here.