WASHINGTON UPDATE*

FDA Testing Bill Gets an "F"

A familiar face doggedly continues his attack on health freedom.

March 2009

In the most recent attack on the forces of natural health, New York State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D, 51st District) has introduced Bill A2957, which provides that “no person shall manufacture, sell or expose for sale any product which shall be termed as a dietary supplement or nutritional supplement without branding or labeling such product with a statement...that the product has or has not been tested by the United States Food and Drug Administration.”

The million-dollar question, of course, is: Why should any supplement be subject to testing by the FDA when its track record is in such shambles? FDA-approved pharmaceutical drugs kill over 100,000 people each and every year, while harming millions more. Alarming cases of foodborne illnesses cast more doubt on the FDA’s ability to protect the public.

Meanwhile, dietary supplements quietly continue to promote good health in a safe, natural manner. With synthetic drugs and their dangerous side effects so pervasive in our society, it makes no sense to subject safe dietary supplements to FDA testing—especially when the FDA’s resources appear to be stretched to their breaking point.

Hidden Hazards

In terms of sheer functionality, A2957 gets a failing grade. Consider: If every supplement manufacturer in New York State submitted its products to the FDA for approval, it would take an eternity to go through them all. Moreover, whichever products were approved first by the FDA would gain a significant market advantage; A2957 would indirectly give the FDA tremendous influence over product sales—an area the FDA simply has no business meddling in.

This bill appears to be anointing the FDA as the supreme supplement authority. Further, the bill seems to be implying that FDA testing of a supplement is synonymous with endorsement. Under A2957, even the world’s highest-quality supplements could be sullied in the consumer’s eyes. While waiting for FDA testing, these supplements would be branded with an unjust, unreasonable “has not been FDA tested” stigma—even if the manufacturer has extensively tested that product and gained independent third-party verification of purity, potency and safety.

Health Tyranny History

It should come as no surprise that Assemblyman Ortiz is backing the nonsensical Bill A2957. His name may sound familiar to those who have followed the fight for health freedom. This is the same assemblyman who, in the past, has proposed other anti-supplement legislation, including one baffling bill intended to forbid school employees from recommending dietary supplements to children. Why he is choosing to interfere with the lifestyle of natural well-being is anybody’s guess.

But his actions are a troubling reflection of health tyranny’s modus operandi. These forces will use any means necessary—whether devising new plans or resurrecting failed plans—in their never-ending mission: to take away our vitamins and other beneficial supplements.

While A2957 is a New York bill, its passage could set a dangerous precedent for the rest of our nation’s health freedom. We must not allow Felix Ortiz’s legislation to be implemented in New York or anywhere else in the country. Contact your elected officials and let them know how you feel about Bill A2957.

The very people that originally opposed DSHEA are now empowered in Washington at the head of key committees. We could very well be in a battle like the one for DSHEA. Be ready to mobilize.

If you want the FDA to keep its hands off your safe, natural supplements, then let your voice be heard—for the sake of natural well-being join the Nutritional Health Alliance (NHA) today at www.nha2009.com

*This editorial is a public service announcement sponsored by the Nutritional Health Alliance (NHA).