Washington, DC (February 8, 2001) --- "In response
to the Alaska case, the Ephedra Education Council released
the following statement today:
Responsible
industry stands behind its policy of not manufacturing or
distributing dietary supplements that contain synthetic ephedrine.
In fact, trade associations that represent the vast majority
of ephedra manufactures and distributors have continually
asked FDA to prohibit the use of synthetic ephedrine in herbal
ephedra products. It has been the policy of industry, and
has, at the urging of industry, been adopted as law in several
states.
As recently
as October 2000, these same trade associations filed a citizen
petition with FDA urging the agency to adopt this prohibition
as well as serving limits, restriction on sale to minors,
prohibition on marketing for illicit purposes and a strong
warning label. This case, which involved a product that had
synthetic ephedrine, further demonstrates that it is time
for FDA to act upon Industry�s request.
It is
also important to note that a article press report states
that synthetic ephedrine and herbal Ephedra are the same substance
upon entering the bloodstream. However, this statement fails
to acknowledge that herbal Ephedra contains less potent ingredients,
in a smaller quantity, than pure synthetic ephedrine.
Additionally,
in the same press report, the plaintiff�s attorney was referenced
as saying that the case was strengthened by the recent publication
of the Haller and Benowitz study in the New England Journal
of Medicine. This study reviewed adverse events reported
by the FDA. However, as has been demonstrated in the past,
the findings represent old information that has already been
contradicted by experts. Specifically, in the past year a
seven-member panel of scientific and medical experts has reviewed
and discredited the same adverse events, many of which were
deemed irrelevant by FDA. Finally, the recently released Cantox
Study analyzed in detail all the available scientific data
on Ephedra, including the adverse event reports. This exhaustive
study, using standards set by the National Academy of Sciences,
revealed no serious concerns dealing with toxicity, or other
potentially harmful effects, from the use of responsibly manufactured
and marketed herbal ephedra productsAdditionally, in the same
article the plaintiff attorney was referenced as saying that
the case was strengthened by the recent publication of the
Haller and Benowitz study in the New England Journal of
Medicine. This study reviewed adverse events reported
by the FDA. However, as stated in the past, the findings represent
old information that has already been contradicted by experts.
Specifically, in the past year a seven-member panel of scientific
and medical experts has reviewed and discredited the same
adverse events, many of which were deemed irrelevant by FDA.
And finally, the recently released Cantox Study analyzed in
detail all the available scientific data on Ephedra, including
the adverse event reports. The exhaustive study revealed no
serious concerns dealing with toxicity or other potentially
harmful effects.
###
The Ephedra
Education Council is supported primarily by members of the
Ephedra Committee of the American Herbal Products Association,
a recognized leader in promoting the safe and responsible
marketing of dietary supplements. The Council provides factual
information to the media and public about dietary supplements
containing Ephedra. For more information, logon to www.EphedraFacts.com.
