Coke Might Get Slapped By the FDA
Among supplement consumers there is a love/hate relationship with the FDA. On one hand, they want to be protected from potentially dangerous ingredients or mislabeled products. They want protection essentially. On the other hand, they often complain about government intervention and oversight into their private choices. Often you’ll hear these cries when popular stimulants like ephedra get banned or popular DSHEA compliant hormonal products like “andro” get scheduled as controlled substances. Regardless of which side of the fence these fickle consumers are sitting on any particular day the FDA often has bigger fish to fry other than the supplement industry.
Just recently Coke a Cola received a pretty strong warning from the FDA regarding the labeling of their Diet Coke Plus product. Essentially, the FDA feels that the fortification of carbonated snack beverages with vitamins and minerals is not in the best interest of consumers unless it falls within an acceptable range for the established Recommend Dietary Allowance (RDA). You’ll see these RDA’s often listed on nutrition and supplement labels (yes there is a difference). Obviously the FDA is not happy and is quite clear when stating “The above violations are not meant to be an all-inclusive list of deficiencies in your products or their labeling. It is your responsibility to ensure that all of your products are in compliance with the laws and regulations enforced by FDA. You should take prompt action to correct the violations. Failure to promptly correct these violations may result in regulatory actions without further notice, such as seizure and/or injunction.” Obviously, they FDA is not mincing words.
I guess my point in bringing this up today is that the FDA isn’t always the bad guy and actually spends most of its active enforcement efforts on food products as opposed to dietary supplements. Believe it or not, the large majority of warnings and recalls issued by the FDA are regarding food products and rightfully so. Contamination and mislabeling of food products is actually a common problem in the United States and the FDA is stretched to the limits sometimes enforcing proper safety initiatives to protect you. While supplement consumers often point fingers at the FDA it is my hope they understand most of their enforcement efforts don’t involve the supplement industry in all reality as this recent enforcement effort with Coke clearly shows.
December 30, 2008 at 10:42 am
multi-billion corp vs and 2 room organization.
gotta pay them abit of money for FDA to go blind sight
December 30, 2008 at 10:50 am
hmmm. people LOVE to have it both ways, protect me, but let me do what I want. annoying really.
December 31, 2008 at 11:57 am
I love that slap gif.
January 3, 2009 at 6:42 pm
"I guess my point in bringing this up today is that the FDA isn’t always the bad guy and actually spends most of its active enforcement efforts on food products as opposed to dietary supplements. Believe it or not, the large majority of warnings and recalls issued by the FDA are regarding food products and rightfully so. Contamination and mislabeling of food products is actually a common problem in the United States and the FDA is stretched to the limits sometimes enforcing proper safety initiatives to protect you."
Corrections: the FDA is always bad and the FDA is not looking out for the public. Contrary to what most people would expect, the mission of FDA employees is to first retain their job, then to expand it’s role to aid in furtherance of the former. While the FDA’s stated mission is to protect the public, only someone not studied in the role of non-competitive, fiat institutions would fall prey to such propaganda. I suggest you read Mises to understand governmental institutions and the notion of governmental entrepreneurism. You may then seek employment with the FDA for a period of time to verify Mises’ writings. The FDA is nothing but a freedom stealing institution that surely does far more harm than good. Any government agency that forbids, under threat of imprisonment, voluntary associations or transactions is, contrary to your declaration, always the bad guy.