Dietary Supplements Essay
Congress drops the ball with supplement legislation Major corporations elude the Food and Drug Administration regulations. Manufactures that produce energy drink supplements have caused addiction and a worldwide epidemic on the belief that their product will give more energy. The first manufacture of energy drinks started in the early 1960’s in Japan with the introduction of Lipovitan D by a company called Taisho (Engber Daniel). In October 25, 1994 President Clinton signed into law, the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act. The FDA cannot regulate dietary supplements as food. People of all ages have started to abuse and mix theses supplement drinks with alcohol trying to get a greater effect. On October 25, 1994 President Clinton signed into law the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act. This legislation restricted how the FDA monitors Dietary Supplements. The FDA no longer has control on supplements and how they are sold to the public (The new dietary supplements law). The DSHEA says, if it is a vitamin, mineral, herb, botanical, or an amino acid and is intended to increase dietary supplement intake it constitutes as a supplement. “According to DSHEA, a dietary supplement is a product that is labeled as a dietary supplement and is not
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represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet. The definition describes the variety of forms—capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, tablet, liquid, or other form—in which these products can be ingested. This section of DSHEA specifically excludes dietary supplements from the definition of food additives in Section 409 of FDCA” (Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels). However the FDA now has to rely on burden of proof this means that they have to prove that it is detrimental to the health of the users. Major corporations like those who produce energy drinks have found ways to bypass the FDA regulations by labeling their product within DSHEA guidelines.
Corporations can now add this statement on their products, “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease” (Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels). Allowing this, this will open doors for corporations allowing them to bypass regulations that were put in place to help protect people from harmful substances. Abuse of these substances could lead to serious health issues heart disease, high blood pressure, other serious health risk, or even
death.
Finally, there are no age restrictions on energy drinks, in which presents a major issue for young consumers, who buy these supplement drinks, not knowing the health risk that they might have with the consumption of the product. According The American heart association, more than 40 percent of reports to the National Poison Data System for “energy drink exposure” in a three-year span involved children under age 6. Shows that the effects of energy drinks in the reported cases included abnormal heart rhythms and seizures. Furthermore this shows that immediate actions need to be taken in the restriction of such products to minors.
As a result, the consumption and the abuse of energy drinks will have and already shows that corporations have put profit over ethics over the health concerns of the consumers especially of that of the younger age. Governments should look at all points of views when deciding new legislation putting aside personal gains. If the abuse of the energy supplements does not change there will be additional health issues that could have been avoided, by more stringent regulations. People should be more aware of the hazards that are associated with the consumption of less restricted supplements regardless of the availability. People should not rely or depend on others to advise them on what might be hazardous. It important for all consumers to investigate products that they want to consume and consider if it is right for them.
represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet. The definition describes the variety of forms—capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, tablet, liquid, or other form—in which these products can be ingested. This section of DSHEA specifically excludes dietary supplements from the definition of food additives in Section 409 of FDCA” (Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels). However the FDA now has to rely on burden of proof this means that they have to prove that it is detrimental to the health of the users. Major corporations like those who produce energy drinks have found ways to bypass the FDA regulations by labeling their product within DSHEA guidelines.
Corporations can now add this statement on their products, “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease” (Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels). Allowing this, this will open doors for corporations allowing them to bypass regulations that were put in place to help protect people from harmful substances. Abuse of these substances could lead to serious health issues heart disease, high blood pressure, other serious health risk, or even
death.
Finally, there are no age restrictions on energy drinks, in which presents a major issue for young consumers, who buy these supplement drinks, not knowing the health risk that they might have with the consumption of the product. According The American heart association, more than 40 percent of reports to the National Poison Data System for “energy drink exposure” in a three-year span involved children under age 6. Shows that the effects of energy drinks in the reported cases included abnormal heart rhythms and seizures. Furthermore this shows that immediate actions need to be taken in the restriction of such products to minors.
As a result, the consumption and the abuse of energy drinks will have and already shows that corporations have put profit over ethics over the health concerns of the consumers especially of that of the younger age. Governments should look at all points of views when deciding new legislation putting aside personal gains. If the abuse of the energy supplements does not change there will be additional health issues that could have been avoided, by more stringent regulations. People should be more aware of the hazards that are associated with the consumption of less restricted supplements regardless of the availability. People should not rely or depend on others to advise them on what might be hazardous. It important for all consumers to investigate products that they want to consume and consider if it is right for them.