Updated--Heads up Canadian health activists (and helpful concerned folk elsewhere)

May 2, 2005

Looks like the report I mentioned IS in the media spotlight afterall. Here is a much more informative version of my previous post. Thanks for the heads up Peter.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050502.wxfood02/BNStory/National/

Most nutrition products break federal regulations

Unapproved ingredients, improper labels top inspectors' concerns, documents show

By PAUL WALDIE

Monday, May 2, 2005 Updated at 3:24 AM EST

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Canadians may want to think twice before reaching for a power bar, weight-loss drink or some other diet supplement.

A national blitz by federal food inspectors has found that 71 per cent of nutritional supplements and meal replacements tested did not comply with Canadian regulations. The violations included improper labelling, non-permitted ingredients and non-compliance with rules governing the composition of these products.

The blitz was the largest of its kind by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It involved inspections at supermarkets, department stores and health-food centres in 31 cities during a six-week period last fall.

Of the 165 products tested, 117 "were found to be in violation of Canadian regulations," according to a CFIA report on the operation, called the Sports Nutrition Project. Ottawa researcher Ken Rubin obtained the report under the Access to Information Act.

"This is a true representation of the mainstream marketplace, as all meal replacements and nutrition supplements at these retail outlets were looked at," the report said. It recommended the CFIA conduct more retail blitzes and also "consider going to gymnasiums where concern for compliance with regulatory requirements may be lower."

The Globe and Mail also reviewed 47 CFIA product tests done this year that showed that several popular brands scored "unsatisfactory" in a review of their contents and labels. Brands that came up with at least one unsatisfactory result included President's Choice bars, Jolt cola, Muscle Milk, Powerbar, Jamieson Slim Down, ZonePerfect, Rexall drinks, and Vector cereal.

The manufacturers say they are doing their best to comply with CFIA rules and insist their products are safe.

"We are confident that our Vector products currently on-shelf are in full compliance and, to date, we have not received any communication from the CFIA to suggest otherwise," said Christine Lowry, vice-president, nutrition at Kellogg Canada Inc.

Geoff Wilson, a spokesman for Loblaw Cos. Ltd., said his company has also verified that its products are in line with federal rules. "We retested all of the [products] that were in question and they all came back showing they are within the guideline amounts," he said.

The inspection and tests are part of an ongoing effort by the CFIA to crack down on the sports nutrition industry, which has been booming. Sales of supplements and weight-loss drinks in the United States jumped by 50 per cent in the past three years to $15.7-billion (U.S.), according to the Nutrition Business Journal. Similar figures are not available for Canada, but the industry is believed to generate about $1-billion (Canadian) in sales annually.

"We want [manufacturers] to try to make sure that products comply and are safe for Canadians," said Robin Atkinson, an official in the CFIA's fair labelling practices program. "It is a very dynamic industry and there's always newcomers on the scene." She added that the agency has been targeting bars, shakes and powders that it suspects are likely to contravene regulations.

The CFIA report on the blitz did not name specific products, but outlined several overall concerns, including the presence of non-permitted ingredients such as taurine, an amino acid that is added to many energy drinks. Health Canada is concerned about high levels of taurine in some drinks.

However, the agency said the overall number of these infractions has decreased.

The report also noted a "high percentage of labelling infractions," including non-permitted claims, a lack of mandatory information and missing expiry dates. "There is a high rate of non-compliance with the nutrition information requirements for both domestic and imported products. There appears to be a general lack of awareness of what the requirements are," it concluded.

Peter Lemon, a kinesiology professor at the University of Western Ontario who specializes in nutrition, said the CFIA results mesh with other research. "A lot of these products have never been scientifically shown to have the effects that the manufacturer is claiming," Dr. Lemon said. "You may not be getting what you think you are getting."

He added that meal replacement bars and shakes "have a place in the diet of many Canadians, if you are trying to lose weight or gain weight."

"But if they are not close to what they say they are, then you are not getting all the advantage that you should be getting. And, if there's a contamination that is unsafe, from a health standpoint this could be catastrophic."

Molly Killingbeck, a former world-class sprinter who now coaches young runners, said she refuses to recommend any supplements to her athletes. "There is so much out there and because it's not regulated you don't know what they are getting," said Ms. Killingbeck, who is manager of athlete services at the Canadian Sport Centre - Ontario. "These companies who are making these products, they pop up overnight and they fold just as quickly."

Bob Hindley, a power lifter in Vancouver, said he welcomes the CFIA blitz and hopes the government will do more to control these products. Mr. Hindley, 47, spends about $200 a month on supplements and they make up about 15 per cent of his diet. He said for many younger athletes, supplements can make up almost half their diet.

"I try and buy from bigger, more established companies," he said. "I just hope that their product is what they say it is."

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While the above report deals with supplements from the sports nutrition angle, it can equally be used against the health supplement industry as a whole. It seems to be suspiciously timed with Bill C420 that as far as I know is still in Committee--to be brought back for a third and final reading at some point. I've been trying to find out more about the timing here but I've had no reply from anyone I asked so far. If anyone knows what stage we are at and when we might expect the Committee to be finished with their findings please let me know?

In the meantime I think we had better get a concerted effort going here---this news report does not bode well for the future of alternative health products in Canada.

Here are some links to news and action we can take.

http://taxtyranny.ca/images/HTML/BillC-240/

New Proposed Health Freedom Legislation

UPDATED ON April 20, 2005Friends of Freedom Summer 2004 Health Freedom Update Newspaper - Election 2004

BILL C-420

NEW: About the Federal Private Member’s Health Freedom Bill C-420 ... Brief in support of Bill C 420 Ongoing problems with Bill C-420 Herbal supplements bill hard to swallow for critics

Bill C-420 Must Be Passed As Written - Join FOF Why Bill C-420 Saves Our Supplements & More C-420 transcipt from Wed. debate Thurs, March 10, 05 - Lunney’s Natural Health Product Initiative Goes to Committee March 20, 2003 - An Act to Amend the food & Drugs Act. C-420 Update About Our Private Member’s Health Freedom Bill C-420 About Our Private Member’s Health Freedom Bill C-420 Health Freedom Bill C-420 Is Back In The Canadian Parliament

PARLIMENTRY DEBATES ON BILL C-420 (HANSARDS)

Nov 29, 2004 -EDITED HANSARD Thursday, October 21, 2004 October 3, 2003, Voting Results October 3, 2003, Hansard June 2, 2003 March 20, 2003 April 30, 2003 April 09, 2003

DR. JAMES LUNNEY PRESS RELEASES AND CORRESPONDENCE

NEW: Dr. Lunney's press release regarding his presentation on C-420 Bill C-420 yesterday - there is something wrong with the way... Natural Health Products Bill Goes to Committee

Lunney’s Bill: Big Victory - Bill Goes to Committee

Natural Health Products at Risk James Lunney, MP Bio

GRASSROOTS SUPPORT INFORMATION TO HELP PASS BILL

PETITION For Health Freedom MP Support Letter Dear Health Store / Practitioner

E-action Letters

Communicate with lawmakers. Send your E-action letter today! (located at top of the webpage).

FEDERAL STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH MEMBERS

Bonnie Brown Réal Ménard Rob Merrifield Colin Carrie Brenda Chamberlain Jean Crowder Nicole Demers Ruby Dhalla Steven John Fletcher James Lunney Michael John Savage Robert Thibault