FDA WARNING LETTER to Dr. Weil

kind2creatures · � #1 � 10-21-2009, 09:33 AM

Just came across this online!

Quote:

Weil Lifestyle LLC 10/15/09

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
BUREAU OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20580DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20740

TO: [email protected]
www.drweil.com

FROM: The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission

RE: Unapproved/Uncleared/Unauthorized Products Related to the H1N1 Flu Virus; and
Notice of Potential Illegal Marketing of Products to Prevent, Treat or Cure the H1N1 Virus

DATE: October 15, 2009

WARNING LETTER

This is to advise you that the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and the United States Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") reviewed your website at the Internet address www.drweil.com on October 13, 2009. The FDA has determined that your website offers a
product for sale that is intended to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat or cure the H1N1 Flu Virus in people. This product has not been approved, cleared, or otherwise authorized by FDA for use in the diagnosis, mitigation, prevention, treatment, or cure of the H1N1 Flu Virus.

This product is your Immune Support Formula. The marketing of this product violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDC Act). 21 U.S.C. �� 331, 351, 352. We request that you immediately cease marketing unapproved, uncleared, or unauthorized products for the diagnosis, mitigation, prevention, treatment, or cure of the H1N1 Flu Virus.

In addition, FTC staff reminds you that the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. � 41 et seq., requires that claims that a dietary supplement can prevent, treat, or cure human infection with the H1N1 virus, must be supported by well-controlled human clinical studies at the time the claims are made. More generally, it is against the law to make or exaggerate health claims, whether directly or indirectly, through the use of a product name, website name, metatags, or other means, without rigorous scientific evidence sufficient to substantiate the claims. Violations of the FTC Act may result in legal action in the form of a Federal District Court injunction or Administrative Order. An order also may require that you pay back money to consumers.

Some examples of the claims on your website include:

On a webpage entitled, "The Swine Flu - H1N1 ," with the subtitle "Swine Flu and You":

"[D]uring the flu season, I suggest taking a daily antioxidant, multivitamin-mineral supplement, as well as astragalus, a well-known immune-boosting herb that can help ward off colds and flu. You might also consider. .. the Weil Immune Support Formula[,] which contains both astragalus and immune-supportive polypore mushrooms ...."

On a product webpage describing the Immune Support Formula:

"The Immune Support Formula contains astragalus. . . . Astragalus ... is used traditionally to ward off colds and flu and has been well studied for its antiviral and immunity-enhancing properties."

"Th[e] synergistic combination of immune modulators [found in the Immune Support Formula] is especially useful for those who tend to get every bug that goes around during the winter."

On the same webpage, under "Supplement Facts," describing the Astragalus supplement (which is one element of the Immune Support Formula):

"Astragalus ... is ... used traditionally to ward off colds and flu, and has demonstrated both antiviral and immune-boosting effects in scientific investigation."

On the website's home page, DrWeil.com:

"Worried About Flu? Dr. Weil's Immune Support Formula can help maintain a strong defense against the flu. It contains astragalus, a traditional herb that boosts immunity. Buy it now in one click, and start protecting your immune system against flu this season."

On the Dr. Weil Vitamins - Daily Vitamin Packs webpage:

"[L]earn more about Dr. Weil's Immune Support Formula, which contains astragalus - an herb Dr. Weil recommends to help ward off colds and flu."

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. � 247d, has determined that a public health emergency exists nationwide involving the H1N1 Flu Virus that affects or has the significant potential to affect national
security. Following this determination and in response to requests from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FDA issued letters authorizing the emergency use of certain unapproved and uncleared products or unapproved or uncleared uses of approved or cleared products, provided certain criteria are met, under 21 U.S.C. � 360bbb-3. The marketing and sale of unapproved or uncleared H1N1 Flu Virus-related products that are not authorized by and used in accordance with the conditions of an Emergency Use Authorization, is a potentially significant threat to the public health. Therefore, FDA is taking urgent measures to protect consumers from products that, without approval or authorization by FDA, claim to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat or cure H1N1 Flu Virus in people.

You should take immediate action to ensure that your firm is .not marketing, and does not market in the future, products intended to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat or cure the H1N1 Flu Virus that have not been approved, cleared, or authorized by the FDA. The above is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of violations. It is your responsibility to ensure that the products you market are in compliance with the FFDC Act and FDA's implementing regulations. We advise you to review your websites, product labels, and other labeling and promotional materials to ensure that the claims you make for your products do not adulterate or misbrand the products in violation of the FFDC Act. 21 U.S.C. �� 331, 351, 352. Within 48 hours, please send an email to [email protected], describing the actions that you have taken or plan to take to address your firm's violations. If your firm fails to take corrective action immediately, FDA may take enforcement action, such as seizure or injunction for violations of the FFDC Act without further notice. Firms that fail to take corrective action may also be referred to FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations for possible criminal prosecution for violations of the FFDC Act and other federal laws.

FDA is advising consumers not to purchase or use H1N1 Flu Virus-related products offered for sale that have not been approved, cleared, or authorized by FDA. Your firm will be added to a published list on FDA's website of firms and websites that have received warning letters from FDA concerning marketing unapproved, uncleared and unauthorized H1N1 Flu Virus-related products in violation of the FFDC Act. This list can be found at www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/h1n1flu. Once the violative claims and/or products have been removed from your website, and these corrective actions have been confirmed by the FDA, the published list will be' updated to indicate that your firm has taken appropriate corrective action.

If you are not located in the United States, please note that unapproved, uncleared, or unauthorized products intended to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat, or cure the H1N1 Flu Virus offered for importation into the United States are subject to detention and refusal of admission. We will advise the appropriate regulatory or law enforcement officials in the country from which you operate that FDA considers your product listed above to be an unapproved, uncleared, or unauthorized product that cannot be legally sold to consumers in the United States.

Please direct any inquiries to FDA at [email protected] or by contacting Kathleen Lewis at 301-436-2148.

It is also your responsibility to ensure that the products you market are in compliance with the FTC Act. FTC staff strongly urge you to review all claims for your products and ensure that those claims are supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence. The FTC also asks that you notify it via electronic mail at [email protected] within 48 hours of the specific actions you have taken to address the agency's concerns. If you have any questions regarding compliance with the FTC Act, please contact Karen Jagielski at 202-326-2509.

Very truly yours,
/S/
Mary K. Engle
Associate Director
Division of Advertising Practices
Federal Trade Commission

/S/
Roberta F. Wagner
Director
Office of Compliance
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Food and Drug Administration

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jfh · � #2 � 10-21-2009, 02:12 PM

Absolutely outrageous.

"In addition, FTC staff reminds you that the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. � 41 et seq., requires that claims that a dietary supplement can prevent, treat, or cure human infection with the H1N1 virus, must be supported by well-controlled human clinical studies at the time the claims are made."

Funny how the rule applies to a dietary supplement but not an untested pharmaceutical vaccine.

If he were selling apples as a prevention for colds and flu, which they may be, he would still be in trouble.

kind2creatures · � #3 � 10-21-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh

Funny how the rule applies to a dietary supplement but not an untested pharmaceutical vaccine.

If he were selling apples as a prevention for colds and flu, which they may be, he would still be in trouble.

True Jim, double standards here for sure! I'm enjoying a nice tall glass of Pomegranate juice right now, soon I'll need a prescription for it and pay 3 X's the price! Looks like Weil knows how to play the game and cover himself.

Quote:

The content that was called into question in the warning was primarily educational, including appropriate strategies to avoid getting the flu this season. It included the official recommendations for H1N1 flu vaccination from the Centers for Disease Control. The content also included comments about ingredients in Weil Lifestyle and other supplements which may help support a healthy immune system.

Because these products and the flu (which is a medical diagnosis) were both mentioned in editorial content on the site, and it was suggested that particular traditional herbal ingredients may provide some protection against flu, it was the opinion of the FDA/FTC that the language was in violation of current standards.

All Weil editorial content is reviewed for compliance with FDA /FTC guidelines. I directed the website team to remove the FDA/FTC-referenced content for review, and they have done so. I fully support the FDA/FTC task force in its efforts.

Arrowwind09 · � #4 � 10-21-2009, 02:32 PM

Hey! Anyone want to give Karen a call?
If you have any questions regarding compliance with the FTC Act, please contact Karen Jagielski at 202-326-2509

saved1986 · � #5 � 10-21-2009, 02:41 PM

I think anyone with a brain who read weil's book "Spontaneous Healing" has been converted against the med system. That book was just too good.!

Spirit Raintree · � #6 � 01-15-2010, 04:58 PM

I am a very positive, optimistic person. I am deeply spiritual although not religious at all. My beliefs are mine and I don't feel the need to convert people to my cause. I figure life is a ride and I'm here to make the most of the experience.

I also have a general policy of not empowering things that I don't enjoy. I don't buy into negativity for the sake of negativity. To this end, I don't watch the news, I don't watch commercial television, and I don't listen to commercial radio. I do watch a slew of movies and do so gleefully. I am particularly fond of independent movies, free from the tampering of the big studios. Another component of my belief system is that if I don't have anything positive to say about something, I don't say anything at all.

I can find the positive in almost anything. Sometimes I have to look really hard, but I can almost always come up with some redeeming value.

With this in mind, I have absolutely nothing to say about the FDA.

Mad Scientest · � #7 � 01-15-2010, 06:51 PM

Having a positive outlook and avoiding negative situations is all well and good, but ignoring them is not.
You need not dwell on the negative but you must be aware of it.
If someone has expressed an intent on harming you just ignoring them is not a good option.

Cookie · � #8 � 01-15-2010, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfh

Absolutely outrageous.

"In addition, FTC staff reminds you that the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. � 41 et seq., requires that claims that a dietary supplement can prevent, treat, or cure human infection with the H1N1 virus, must be supported by well-controlled human clinical studies at the time the claims are made."

Funny how the rule applies to a dietary supplement but not an untested pharmaceutical vaccine.

Oooh the irony. hahaha

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