Coral Calcium Comedy Show:

[Guest guest]

The Coral Calcium Comedy Show Continues: Observations on Outrageous

Displays at National Nutritional Food Association Meeting, June 27th,

2003, Las Vegas, NV

By Asha Azhar, Independent Information Technologist.

 

" It is a crying shame " that a valuable holistic mineral supplement,

coral calcium, continues to be subject to deceptive marketing practices,

even after the Federal Government takes serious legal action against Mr.

Robert Barefoot, Mr. Kevin Trudeau and their corporations.   It is

very difficult to understand just what Mr. Robert Barefoot is promoting

these days in terms of a coral calcium supplement.  Mr. Barefoot is

engaged in continuing public histrionics and " evangelistic-like "

rhetoric.  Mr. Barefoot has promoted coral calcium materials in tea

bags, in capsules and even in tablets for which there is no significant

precedent for benefit.  Mr. Robert Barefoot gave a lecture at NNFA on

Friday, June 27th which posed many questions from an audience who left

his lecture with their questions unanswered.  

 

Perhaps Mr. Barefoot's medical advice is becoming more bizarre.  Mr.

Barefoot claims repeatedly that unprotected, extended exposure to

sunlight is healthy.  This advice is dangerous.  Using politically

incorrect statements, Mr. Barefoot talks about the protection of " Black

Americans " by compliance with his absurd recommendation and

generalizations that " Blacks " in Africa do not die of cancer like

" Blacks " in America because " Blacks " in Africa have extended exposure to

sunlight.  These statements must be considered offensive to the

African American citizens of the United States.  This is not the first

time that Mr. Barefoot has discussed ethnic differences and he has in

the past attempted to emulate the revered and respected leader Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.  This behavior is unconscionable. 

 

In Mr. Barefoot's lecture at NNFA and his associated pre and post

lecture dialogue, one witnessed a vicious attack on the medical

establishment, where Mr. Barefoot insisted that doctors do not read and

are not knowledgeable about disease profiles and nutrition.  These

kinds of sweeping statements are derogatory and hardly likely to instill

confidence in doctor patient relationships that are necessary for the

health of the nation. 

 

In a frenetic and uncontrolled manner, Mr. Barefoot was reported to have

waved a stack of papers during his presentation at NNFA, in defense of

his earlier absurd and preposterous illegal treatment claims about coral

calcium.  Showing total disregard for recent Federal Trade Commission

actions and expressing his contempt for the FTC, Mr. Barefoot persisted

in his misguided statements about coral calcium at the National Forum of

the NNFA annual meeting.  Participants at the NNFA meeting were highly

critical of the lack of discipline exerted by the NNFA as a trade

association.  Mr. Andy Bowers, a highly respected advocate of coral

calcium supplements stated " Mr. Barefoot's actions are shameful.  Mr.

Barefoot is pulling the entire dietary supplement industry into

disrepute.  How Mr. Barefoot can continue to appear in public in this

uncontrolled manner with his reckless purveyance of pseudo science and

dangerous treatment advice is a mystery to me and other responsible

members of the dietary supplement industry. "

 

Dr. Stephen Holt, M.D., author of the new authoritative book on coral

calcium (Natures Benefit from Coral Calcium: A Definitive Guide, "

Wellness Publishing, April 2003, www.wellnesspublishing.com) commented

" Mr. Barefoot continues to claim that milligram amount additions of

cesium to his products, under specific labels, is safe and effective. 

No evidence exists to make such definitive statements and Mr. Barefoot

publicly claims that cesium is both a cancer preventive and treatment,

without supportive scientific information for efficacy; and he continues

to engage in denial of the facts that cesium has no biological role in

humans (see www.webelements.com) and that may betoxic.  The issue of

toxicity of cesium in dietary supplements is well-described in peer

review medical literature which Mr. Barefoot will not acknowledge.  I

must finally address this issue and refer people to the following

publications that describe cesium toxicity in supplements in humans:

" The Saliba Study " of life-threatening abnormality of heart rhythm, " The

Lyon Study " of cesium toxicity from self supplementation and " The Pintor

Study " of serious cardiac arrhythmia induced by cesium. "    VIDE

INFRA:  (Saliba W, Erdogan O, Niebauer M. Polymorphic ventricular

tachycardia in a woman taking cesium chloride. Pacing Clin

Electrophysiol (part 1): 515-517, 2001, Lyon AW,  Mayhew WJ. Cesium

Toxicity: a case of self-treatment by alternative therapy gone awry.

Ther Drug Monit. 2003 Feb; 25 (1): 114-6, Pinter A M.D., Dorian P M.D.

and Newman D M.D. Cesium-Induced Torsades de Pointes, N Engl J Med. Vol.

346, No. 5, Jan. 31, 2002, p 383).

 

Dr. Holt further commented, " I am deeply disturbed that the less

knowledgeable segment of the dietary supplement industry may still take

Mr. Barefoot's remarks on cesium as fact.  I have no problems with

earlier precedents for the inclusion of microgram amounts of cesium in

supplements, even though the benefits of cesium are arguable.  Indeed,

some coral calcium supplements may contain natural amounts of cesium but

these amounts are so small as to be insignificant in most circumstances

and these amounts are measured in parts per million, not milligram

amounts as proposed by Mr. Barefoot.  Mr. Barefoot has challenged

people to define toxic amounts of cesium.  If Mr. Barefoot had any

background or training in clinical science then he would realize that

there is great intra and inter individual variation in a person's

response to a toxic compound.  In a susceptible individual, even small

amounts of cesium can be toxic.  This situation is well- illustrated

in the scientific paper produced by the Cleveland Clinic researchers. "

 

Physicians have defined patients who may be susceptible to cesium

toxicity.  Such individuals include those with low blood potassium and

even middle aged females (Saliba W, Erdogan O, Niebauer M. Polymorphic

ventricular tachycardia in a woman taking cesium chloride. Pacing Clin

Electrophysiol (part 1): 515-517, 2001).  Mature females are probably

the largest target population that takes coral calcium supplements. 

Dr. Holt stated further, " My opinions are shared by several

distinguished health care practitioners with special experience in

nutritional medicine who signed a petition against the inclusion of

cesium in milligram amounts in supplements.  Furthermore, Dr. N. Sato

of Marine Bio Co. Ltd. Japan reports in correspondence, recently, that

the Japanese government has banned the use of cesium in food and in

supplements. "  

 

The company Marine Bio of Japan, bulk suppliers of coral calcium, issued

a press statement through their U.S. distributors earlier this year to

clarify their lack of support for illegal treatment claims on coral

calcium, which have been made by Mr. Robert Barefoot and his misguided

followers.  Clearly, Mr. Barefoot's aphorisms on cesium are equally as

preposterous and absurd as his coral calcium treatment claims that he

made on T.V. and continues to make, even after the filing of a complaint

by the Federal Trade Commission.  (see www.ftc.gov).  Readers are

referred to the FTC website which contains a copy of a lawsuit filed by

the Federal Government against Mr. Barefoot and others who have engaged

in deceptive marketing practices for the sale of coral calcium.

 

It was not clear to the audience during Mr. Barefoot's lecture on June

27th just what kind of coral calcium materials Mr. Barefoot has used in

supplements that he has supported past and present.  By continuing

reference to his alleged relationships with Marine Bio Co. Ltd. in

Japan, Mr. Barefoot touts the unproven advantages of SMP44, a type of

coral material which has been alleged to be " dolomite, " in simple terms

" limestone, " by competing suppliers.  It is stressed that these

matters remain quite contentious and unresolved.

 

It is clear that the specifications of SMP44 from Marine Bio Co. Ltd.

Japan do not reflect heavy metal contamination.  During Mr. Barefoot's

lecture, Mr. Andy Bowers of Coral Inc. Nevada questioned the type of

material used by Mr. Barefoot after Mr. Bowers commented that to his

belief the FDA had impounded some of Mr. Barefoot's product because of

lead contamination.  Mr. Barefoot did not address the issue.  One

cannot assume that SMP44 is being used consistently in product that he

endorses under multiple labels.  It is known that Mr. Barefoot has

promoted the use of coral water from coral containing tea bags, but it

is also known that Mr. Barefoot describes the use of such tea bags as a

gimmick (Barefoot on Coral Calcium:  An Elixir of Life) . 

 

It is known that Mr. Barefoot has made radio infomercials with a New

York based, direct-selling company where Mr. Barefoot has sold coral

calcium that was derived from above the sea level.  However, Mr.

Barefoot continues to refer to above ground collected coral calcium as

" dirt. "   One may ask is the Barefoot touted coral calcium on radio

" dirt " or has it recently become " dirt? "   To illustrate just what a

fiasco has gone before from Mr. Barefoot, one needs to know that the

coral calcium product sold on radio infomercials from New York was

actually supplied by Mr. Bowers as a product from Coral Inc., a type of

coral calcium which Mr. Barefoot has repeatedly criticized recently, but

supported with zeal in the past.  To add to this histrionic saga, few

people realize that Mr. Barefoot was a former partner in Health Co.

Inc., which now is superceded by Coral Inc.  the principal owner of

which is Mr. Andy Bowers.  Thus, Mr. Barefoot was formerly engaged in

a partnership to sell the type of coral calcium which he now refers to

as " dirt. "   Meanwhile, Mr. Barefoot has the audacity to allege that

manufactures of products other than those he claims to endorse are

making inferior products.  This is patent disparagement, unfair

marketing practice and represents tortious interference with other

respected people's business.   Mr. Barefoot's motivation is open to

considerable discussion by many disenchanted people.

 

 

Dr. Holt M.D. comments " Nobody is enjoying the enormous free-for-all and

damage caused by Mr. Barefoot's confrontations with many parties in

public dialogue and legal disputes.  The coral calcium controversies

may irreparably damage the dietary supplement industry that has not

shown a willingness to police itself.   I draw the line in the sand

with one issue that is extremely distressing to me personally. 

Whatever the outcome of any confrontations or difference of opinions,

the cherished movements of natural medicine must not be invaded by

despicable acts of the purveyance of false hope to people with tragic

illnesses.  I am outraged by these acts and have spent many stressful

hours explaining to individuals that they will not be able to " Grow a

new brain, " " Throw away their wheelchairs " or " Cure their cancer " as

claimed or implied by Mr. Barefoot and his interviewers in the media. "

 

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of all is that high quality coral calcium

is an excellent dietary supplement which has brought considerable

customer satisfaction and high reorder rates because of customer

reported benefits, perceived or actual.  There is emerging science on

coral calcium but this emerging science may run the risk of being

rejected by many people because of the hype around coral calcium that

has transcended any level of scientific knowledge.  The original

capsule product in the retail market for coral calcium is " Barefoot

Coral Calcium Plus™, " owned by Natures Benefit Inc.  This original

product has never been subject to treatment claims and is a best selling

dietary supplement that won the industry Vity Award. 

 

 

Andrea Parris, Customer Service Manager and spokeswoman for Natures

Benefit Inc., the manufactures of Barefoot Coral Calcium Plus™, stated

" The staff at Natures Benefit Inc., are very grateful to their loyal

customers who understand that Natures Benefit Inc., has always distanced

itself from Mr. Barefoot's illegal treatment claims.  Natures Benefit

Inc., will continue to sell its premium brands of coral calcium

including:  (Barefoot Coral Calcium Plus™, Marine Coral Minerals™,

Halstead Stony Minerals™,    Coral Calcium Powder™ and Coral

Calcium for Pets™).  It would be a great disservice to the many

satisfied customers of Natures Benefit Inc., if market confusion

occurred from a change of trademark which is rightfully owned by Natures

Benefit Inc., pursuant to a contract signed by Mr. Barefoot, in which he

remains in breach.  Who would have believed that a trademark would

jump off a label and make preposterous treatment claims?  Natures

Benefit Inc., has not supported the sale of coral calcium on T.V.

infomercials undertaken by Mr. Barefoot, Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Trudeau's

associates.  In addition, Natures Benefit Inc., has not sold coral

calcium with illegal treatment claims on the internet – a wide spread

practice.  Mr. Barefoot's claims of superiority of his various

irrational formulas of coral calcium are without foundation.  Natures

Benefit Inc., commits itself to purity, quality and cost advantage in

serving its valued customer base.  Natures Benefit Inc. has invested

enormous time and energy in building the brand known as Barefoot Coral

Calcium Plus™ in an ethical manner.  We will oppose anyone,

especially Robert Barefoot, who preys on sick people with promises of

magical cures.  We will fight to maintain the integrity of our brand

name Barefoot Coral Calcium Plus™.  And we will protect the

integrity of the product category and the industry. "

You must read the new book by Stephen Holt MD. 

 

 

 

My Web-site: http://community.webtv.net/Yahwist/THEGREATMYSTERY