Algae: False Claims and Hype (History)

[Guest guest]

Algae: False Claims and HypeBlue-green algae (one of eleven groups of algae) are microscopic plants that grow mainly in brackish ponds and lakes throughout the world. Of the more than 1500 known species, some are useful as food, while others have been reported to cause gastroenteritis and hepatitis. Spirulina entered the limelight in 1981 when The National Enquirer promoted it as an "all natural,safe diet pill" that contains phenylalanine (an amino acid), which "acts directly on the appetite center." The article also said it was "an incredible 65% protein, making it the most protein-packed food in the world."These claims are bunkum. The FDA has concluded that there is no evidence that spirulina (or phenylalanine) is effective as an appetite suppressant. The FDA has also noted that the "65% protein" claim is meaningless because, taken according to their label, spirulina products provide only negligible amounts of protein.MISCORP and Light ForceIn 1982, Microalgae International Sales Corp. (MISCORP) and its founder, Christopher Hills, agreed to pay $225,000 to settle charges that they had made false claims about spirulina. The company had claimed that its spirulina products were effective for weight control and had therapeutic value against diabetes, anemia, liver disease, and ulcers.Light Force, also founded by Hills, marketed spirulina products with claims that they can suppress appetite, boost immunity, and increase energy. Company sales materials claimed that spirulina is a "superfood" and "works to cleanse and detoxify the body." In a 1987 issue of Light Force's magazine, The Enlightener, vice president and corporate attorney Steve Kochen spells out the company's "legal guidelines." These include:Current regulations . . . prohibit both the company and its Distributors from using any medical research to promote, advertise or sell the products. You are free to provide any responsible medical research for the sole purpose of education and information . . . . as long as no mention is made to any specific products, and no attempt is made to sell products at the time the information is made available. When using the mail to send research information . . . . any sales information must be provided separately and may not be linked to the medical research. You are free to share your personal experience with any of our products, even if that experience involves the alleviation of some health problems or symptoms. However, it is also imperative that you qualify your personal testimonial by saying, "Of course, we cannot make any medical claim for our products or guarantee you will have the same experience." Despite all this, The Enlightener carried reports about users who lost weight or recovered from arthritis, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and serious injuries while taking Light Force products. None of these reports is accompanied by significant documentation. In 1996, Light Force merged into Royal BodyCare, a multilevel company with a much larger product line.K.C. Laboratories and Cell TechIn 1982, K.C. Laboratories of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and its president, Victor H. Kollman, began selling Blue Green Manna products (derived from another type of alga) with claims that they were effective against a wide range of health problems. In 1983, the FDA began legal action to stop the scheme, but marketing of the products did not stop. Finally, in 1986, at the agency's request, a U.S. District Court judge issued a permanent injunction ordering all parties involved to stop manufacturing, distributing, and selling blue-green algae harvested from Klamath Lake, Oregon. Explaining his decision, the judge said:At the trial on January 9, 1986, the government introduced additional evidence of the widespread use of blue-green algae Manna products, and of the therapeutic claims that were made for these products. Victor Kollman denied that he had made therapeutic claims. . . . Nevertheless he continued to claim his product has a beneficial effect on the human body . . . as a food, and not a drug. The government showed that taken at the recommended dosage of 1.5 grams, its value as a nutrient is negligible. Further, the cost of the defendant's products, which exceeds $300 per pound, is so high as compared to other sources of the same nutrients that it is apparent that these products are not intended to be used as a food.In 1985, the judge had ruled that the products were misbranded and unapproved new drugs, and had issued a preliminary injunction against their sale. His 1986 order cited evidence that more than 2,500 people had been distributing Manna products with therapeutic claims that defied the injunction. He also reported that since the injunction was issued, hundreds of distributors had written or telephoned with claims that Manna products had cured them or members of their families of such problems as Alzheimer's disease, heart trouble, skin disturbances, allergies, prostate problems, lack of sex drive, emotional problems, and alcoholism.At the 1986 trial, the defendants argued that because other algal products are sold as foods or food supplements, they too should be allowed to sell blue-green algae as food-changing the packaging, trade name, and distribution system if necessary. But the judge ruled that "the demand can no longer be controlled, even if the defendants have a desire to do it." Stating that Kollman had attempted to mislead not only the court but also purchasers of the products, the judge concluded that a permanent injunction was necessary to prevent the defendants from "benefiting from their past violations by meeting the demand they had created for their products." In other words, even if questionable claims were stopped, people who believed the previously made claims would still buy the products [1,2].Although the judge's ruling appears to have ended the sale of Manna products, a similar line called Super Blue Green Algae is still marketed by Cell Tech Inc., a company headed by Kollman's brother Daryl. According to a company promotional tape, "By detoxifying your systems and balancing your nutritional levels, Super Blue Green provides your body and spirit with ingredients that result in experiences of increased energy, mental clarity, dietary control and feelings of overall well-being. This can enable people to deal with the many stresses of this modern world."Cell Tech's literature states that the products do not provide "cures" for diseases and are not intended as a substitute for medical care. Despite this disclaimer, many distributors have made dubious therapeutic claims in advertisements, at health expositions, and in private sales pitches to prospective customers. In 2003, a California judge ruled that 30 of Cell Tech's claims has been deceptive and ordered the compan y to stop making them [3].Possible ToxicityOn May 5, 1999, the Canadian Health Protection Branch warned that products containing blue-green algae may contain toxins harmful to the liver and some species of blue-green algae naturally produce toxins known as microcystins. To determine the extent of this problem, Health Canada, through the Office of Natural Health Products, Therapeutic Products Program, and the Food Directorate of the Health Protection Branch, surveyed products to determine how many are on the market, in what forms they are, and the levels of microcystins they contain. On September 27, 1999, the survey results were announced in a news release:Results of Health Canada's market survey testing of blue-green algal products show that no microcystins were detected in products made from only one type of blue-green algae, Spirulina blue-green algae, which is generally harvested from controlled ponds.However, testing indicates that for many non-Spirulina blue-green algal products, harvested from natural lakes, consumption according to manufacturers directions results in a daily intake of microcystins above that considered acceptable by Health Canada and the World Health Organization. Microcystins are toxins which accumulate in the liver and can cause liver damage. They are naturally produced by some kinds of blue-green algae. Blue-green algal products are sold in tablet, capsule, or powder forms as food supplements, often as a natural source of minerals.Health Canada began its broad sampling of blue-green algal products available on the Canadian market in May 1999, after several blue-green algal products were found to contain unacceptable levels of microcystins. Analytical testing was then performed to measure the levels of microcystins in the blue-green algal products, and the level of risk to Canadian consumers was determined. Based on the results, products made only from Spirulina blue-green algae are no longer considered a microcystin-related health risk.For non-Spirulina blue-green algal products, follow-up will be done on a case by case basis. Health Canada's Food Directorate has communicated the test results and their health significance to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and has indicated that products on the Canadian market, when consumed according to manufacturers directions, should not exceed the daily intake of microcystins considered acceptable by the World Health Organization and Health Canada. Subsequent compliance measures are the responsibility of the CFIA.Health Canada recommends that children not be given products containing the non-Spirulina blue-green algae until measures to address any risk have been implemented. Because of their lower body weight, children are at greater risk of developing serious illness from blue-green algal products containing elevated levels of microcystins, especially if these products are ingested for an extended period of time.Despite recent reports that blue-green algal products can be used as a treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Health Canada has not received any evidence to support such claims, and has not authorized the marketing of any blue-green algal products for any therapeutic purpose. In Canada, the blue-green algal products examined to date are sold as foods, and Health Canada does not allow therapeutic claims for substances sold as foods.Adult consumers who choose to use products containing non-Spirulina blue-green algae should do so for short periods of time only. Adverse symptoms from long-term use of these products (weeks to months) may not be obvious but could range from a feeling of general malaise or gastrointestinal discomfort, to jaundice. Concerned consumers should contact their health care professionals for advice [4].In May 2000, the Oregon Department of Health released data from a survey which found that 63 out of 87 samples contained microcystin levels above its regulatory limit of 1 microgram/gram. The published abstract states:The presence of blue-green algae (BGA) toxins in surface waters used for drinking water sources and recreation is receiving increasing attention around the world as a public health concern. . . . BGA products are commonly consumed in the United States, Canada, and Europe for their putative beneficial effects, including increased energy and elevated mood. Many of these products contain Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, a BGA that is harvested from Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) in southern Oregon, where the growth of a toxic BGA, Microcystis aeruginosa, is a regular occurrence. M. aeruginosa produces compounds called microcystins, which are potent hepatotoxins and probable tumor promoters. Because M. aeruginosa coexists with A. flos-aquae, it can be collected inadvertently during the harvesting process, resulting in microcystin contamination of BGA products. In fall 1996, the Oregon Health Division learned that UKL was experiencing an extensive M. aeruginosa bloom, and an advisory was issued recommending against water contact. The advisory prompted calls from consumers of BGA products, who expressed concern about possible contamination of these products with microcystins. In response, the Oregon Health Division and the Oregon Department of Agriculture established a regulatory limit of 1 µg/g for microcystins in BGA-containing products and tested BGA products for the presence of microcystins. Microcystins were detected in 85 of 87 samples tested, with 63 samples (72%) containing concentrations > 1 µg/g. HPLC and ELISA tentatively identified microcystin-LR, the most toxic microcystin variant, as the predominant congener [5].The Bottom LineSpirulina products contain no nutrients that are not readily available from food -- at a much lower price. They have no proven value for treating any medical problem, and some may contain potent toxins.For Additional InformationHealth Canada Online. Information sheet on blue-green algae (May 1999) Health Canada Online. Information: Blue-Green Algal Products (September 1999) Health Canada Online. Testing methodology for blue green algal products (September 1999) Health Canada Online. Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and their toxins (June 2003) ReferencesBarrett S, Herbert V. The Vitamin Pushers: How the "Health Food" Industry Is Selling Americans a Bill of Goods. Amherst NY: Prometheus Books, 1994. Ballantine C. The trial of the blue-green algae eaters. FDA Consumer 20(6):33-34, 1986. Barrett S. Cell Tech loses false advertising suit. Quackwatch, July 25, 2003. Health Canada announces results of blue - green algal products testing - only Spirulina found Microcystin - free. Health Canada news release, Sept 17, 1999. Gilroy GJ and others. Assessing potential health risks from microcystin toxins in blue-green algae dietary supplements. Environmental Health Perspectives 108:435-439, 2000. Quackwatch Home PageThis article was revised on July 25, 2003.

[Guest guest]

I have great degree of difficulty believing governmental

pronouncements. Herbs from sassafras (the first that I remember) to

Ephedra, apricot pits, etc. have all been said to have deleterious

health effects. All have been researched by pharmaceutical

corporations to show this. All governmental research into the use of a

food as a medicine is done to disprove the alleged benefits in order to

support the status quo position of the pharmaceutical corporations that

offer chemicals as medicine. I think that in both Canada (and I could

be wrong) it would be wrong to give advise to eat oranges or limes for

the purpose of healing scurvy. One could be successfully prosecuted.

On the other hand, what are we left with to support " alternative " or

" complementary " health? The same motive of " profit " has taken over the

movement, and created an industry. The pharmaceutical corporations are

still aligned with national departments (FDA in the states) to protect

their interests, not the public, although the public is still the

rationale. But now it is pharmaceutical corporations that actually do

the research. Pharmaceutical corporations have done research on many

herbs looking for cures from cancer, muscular dystrophy, etc.etc. The

products one buys for the most part are extracts of a laboratory

determined single ingredient to cure (or to stay legal to have an

effect) a particular disease.

The marketing of Ephedra involved usually the above ground parts of

the plant but with an extract sprayed back onto the plant of 12-18% of

ephedrine, or pseudo-ephedrine. This same approach of using those two

ingredients is used in over the counter medicines directly manufactured

by, credit given to, the pharmaceutical companies. And this is done

pretty much across the board with a wide variety of herbs: gingko

biloba (ginkocides); turmeric (curcumin); Ginseng; Goldenseal

(berberines standardized from 5-12%); etc. etc. And yet traditional

cultures used all these " foods " to keep them well without ever

standardizing anything. They made pills of whole herbs, or the parts

that they had discovered did the things they desired to do. And yes,

making teas (decoctions) and extracts were also available to them, but

nothing like this manufactured process that our herbs undergo. And

they were made well through this sort of practice, along with preparing

and eating foods that tasted good. The use of herbs, sourcing through

agriculture into the manufacturing facilities (often pharmaceutical

corporations' facilities) has become big business subject to the way

the American consumer is used to taking his medicine (little bits of

herb in a capsule with a particular standardization with his

predetermined chemical). Either way it appears that one is supporting

the chemical industry, I mean the pharmaceutical industry, in what

he/she is consuming.

In light of the amount of articles on algae, one has to wonder about

its consumption as food. One's money is going to support a

pharmaceutical industry, obviously. But, in today's world, this might

be true no matter what one is doing except for those of us who can

raise the herbs we need, and the ordinary food we consume as well,

ourselves. Obviously, traditional cultures did not go out sipping

Klamath Lake water, in order to get its algal content in the quantity

they needed for some health effect they needed it for. And that would

have been at a time when the water was actually more pristine. But the

possibility does exist that they used the water for drinking and

cooking and did get certain quantities of algae in their water. And

that that water had whatever effect, good or bad, upon them.

Traditional cultures, and the people within them, can get out of

balance as well as ours. My own slant is that we probably are

believing in information stating all the benefits of algae that is

derived for somebody's motivation for profits. But to quote

governmental studies, is only quoting information derived from somebody

else's desires to protect their own profits. There is hardly any

neutral testing. Benefits have to be seen in advance in order for a

corporation to have the desire expense the money required to do the

testing.

My own thought is that it is better to stick with the information

developed by traditional cultures and the ways in which they use the

herbs as foods, as well as medicines.

 

Ed

 

On May 8, 2005, at 12:42 AM, 121 wrote:

 

> Algae: False Claims and Hype

>

> Blue-green algae (one of eleven groups of algae) are microscopic

> plants that grow mainly in brackish ponds and lakes throughout the

> world. Of the more than 1500 known species, some are useful as food,

> while others have been reported to cause gastroenteritis and

> hepatitis. Spirulina entered the limelight in 1981 when The National

> Enquirer promoted it as an " all natural, " " safe diet pill " that

> contains phenylalanine (an amino acid), which " acts directly on the

> appetite center. " The article also said it was " an incredible 65%

> protein, making it the most protein-packed food in the world. "

>

> These claims are bunkum. The FDA has concluded that there is no

> evidence that spirulina (or phenylalanine) is effective as an appetite

> suppressant. The FDA has also noted that the " 65% protein " claim is

> meaningless because, taken according to their label, spirulina

> products provide only negligible amounts of protein.

>

> MISCORP and Light Force

>

> In 1982, Microalgae International Sales Corp. (MISCORP) and its

> founder, Christopher Hills, agreed to pay $225,000 to settle charges

> that they had made false claims about spirulina. The company had

> claimed that its spirulina products were effective for weight control

> and had therapeutic value against diabetes, anemia, liver disease, and

> ulcers.

>

> Light Force, also founded by Hills, marketed spirulina products with

> claims that they can suppress appetite, boost immunity, and increase

> energy. Company sales materials claimed that spirulina is a

> " superfood " and " works to cleanse and detoxify the body. " In a 1987

> issue of Light Force's magazine, The Enlightener, vice president and

> corporate attorney Steve Kochen spells out the company's " legal

> guidelines. " These include:

> • Current regulations . . . prohibit both the company and its

> Distributors from using any medical research to promote, advertise or

> sell the products.

> • You are free to provide any responsible medical research for the

> sole purpose of education and information . . . . as long as no

> mention is made to any specific products, and no attempt is made to

> sell products at the time the information is made available.

> • When using the mail to send research information . . . . any

> sales information must be provided separately and may not be linked to

> the medical research.

> • You are free to share your personal experience with any of our

> products, even if that experience involves the alleviation of some

> health problems or symptoms. However, it is also imperative that you

> qualify your personal testimonial by saying, " Of course, we cannot

> make any medical claim for our products or guarantee you will have the

> same experience. "

>

> Despite all this, The Enlightener carried reports about users who

> lost weight or recovered from arthritis, cancer, multiple sclerosis,

> and serious injuries while taking Light Force products. None of these

> reports is accompanied by significant documentation. In 1996, Light

> Force merged into Royal BodyCare, a multilevel company with a much

> larger product line.

>

> K.C. Laboratories and Cell Tech

>

> In 1982, K.C. Laboratories of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and its

> president, Victor H. Kollman, began selling Blue Green Manna products

> (derived from another type of alga) with claims that they were

> effective against a wide range of health problems. In 1983, the FDA

> began legal action to stop the scheme, but marketing of the products

> did not stop. Finally, in 1986, at the agency's request, a U.S.

> District Court judge issued a permanent injunction ordering all

> parties involved to stop manufacturing, distributing, and selling

> blue-green algae harvested from Klamath Lake, Oregon. Explaining his

> decision, the judge said:

>

> At the trial on January 9, 1986, the government introduced additional

> evidence of the widespread use of blue-green algae Manna products, and

> of the therapeutic claims that were made for these products. Victor

> Kollman denied that he had made therapeutic claims. . . . Nevertheless

> he continued to claim his product has a beneficial effect on the human

> body . . . as a food, and not a drug. The government showed that taken

> at the recommended dosage of 1.5 grams, its value as a nutrient is

> negligible. Further, the cost of the defendant's products, which

> exceeds $300 per pound, is so high as compared to other sources of the

> same nutrients that it is apparent that these products are not

> intended to be used as a food.

>

> In 1985, the judge had ruled that the products were misbranded and

> unapproved new drugs, and had issued a preliminary injunction against

> their sale. His 1986 order cited evidence that more than 2,500 people

> had been distributing Manna products with therapeutic claims that

> defied the injunction. He also reported that since the injunction was

> issued, hundreds of distributors had written or telephoned with claims

> that Manna products had cured them or members of their families of

> such problems as Alzheimer's disease, heart trouble, skin

> disturbances, allergies, prostate problems, lack of sex drive,

> emotional problems, and alcoholism.

>

> At the 1986 trial, the defendants argued that because other algal

> products are sold as foods or food supplements, they too should be

> allowed to sell blue-green algae as food-changing the packaging, trade

> name, and distribution system if necessary. But the judge ruled that

> " the demand can no longer be controlled, even if the defendants have a

> desire to do it. " Stating that Kollman had attempted to mislead not

> only the court but also purchasers of the products, the judge

> concluded that a permanent injunction was necessary to prevent the

> defendants from " benefiting from their past violations by meeting the

> demand they had created for their products. " In other words, even if

> questionable claims were stopped, people who believed the previously

> made claims would still buy the products [1,2].

>

> Although the judge's ruling appears to have ended the sale of Manna

> products, a similar line called Super Blue Green Algae is still

> marketed by Cell Tech Inc., a company headed by Kollman's brother

> Daryl. According to a company promotional tape, " By detoxifying your

> systems and balancing your nutritional levels, Super Blue Green

> provides your body and spirit with ingredients that result in

> experiences of increased energy, mental clarity, dietary control and

> feelings of overall well-being. This can enable people to deal with

> the many stresses of this modern world. "

>

> Cell Tech's literature states that the products do not provide " cures "

> for diseases and are not intended as a substitute for medical care.

> Despite this disclaimer, many distributors have made dubious

> therapeutic claims in advertisements, at health expositions, and in

> private sales pitches to prospective customers. In 2003, a California

> judge ruled that 30 of Cell Tech's claims has been deceptive and

> ordered the compan y to stop making them [3].

>

> Possible Toxicity

>

> On May 5, 1999, the Canadian Health Protection Branch warned that

> products containing blue-green algae may contain toxins harmful to the

> liver and some species of blue-green algae naturally produce toxins

> known as microcystins. To determine the extent of this problem, Health

> Canada, through the Office of Natural Health Products, Therapeutic

> Products Program, and the Food Directorate of the Health Protection

> Branch, surveyed products to determine how many are on the market, in

> what forms they are, and the levels of microcystins they contain. On

> September 27, 1999, the survey results were announced in a news

> release:

>

> Results of Health Canada's market survey testing of blue-green algal

> products show that no microcystins were detected in products made from

> only one type of blue-green algae, Spirulina blue-green algae, which

> is generally harvested from controlled ponds.

>

> However, testing indicates that for many non-Spirulina blue-green

> algal products, harvested from natural lakes, consumption according to

> manufacturers directions results in a daily intake of microcystins

> above that considered acceptable by Health Canada and the World Health

> Organization. Microcystins are toxins which accumulate in the liver

> and can cause liver damage. They are naturally produced by some kinds

> of blue-green algae. Blue-green algal products are sold in tablet,

> capsule, or powder forms as food supplements, often as a natural

> source of minerals.

>

> Health Canada began its broad sampling of blue-green algal products

> available on the Canadian market in May 1999, after several blue-green

> algal products were found to contain unacceptable levels of

> microcystins. Analytical testing was then performed to measure the

> levels of microcystins in the blue-green algal products, and the level

> of risk to Canadian consumers was determined. Based on the results,

> products made only from Spirulina blue-green algae are no longer

> considered a microcystin-related health risk.

>

> For non-Spirulina blue-green algal products, follow-up will be done on

> a case by case basis. Health Canada's Food Directorate has

> communicated the test results and their health significance to the

> Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and has indicated that products on

> the Canadian market, when consumed according to manufacturers

> directions, should not exceed the daily intake of microcystins

> considered acceptable by the World Health Organization and Health

> Canada. Subsequent compliance measures are the responsibility of the

> CFIA.

>

> Health Canada recommends that children not be given products

> containing the non-Spirulina blue-green algae until measures to

> address any risk have been implemented. Because of their lower body

> weight, children are at greater risk of developing serious illness

> from blue-green algal products containing elevated levels of

> microcystins, especially if these products are ingested for an

> extended period of time.

>

> Despite recent reports that blue-green algal products can be used as a

> treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Health Canada has not

> received any evidence to support such claims, and has not authorized

> the marketing of any blue-green algal products for any therapeutic

> purpose. In Canada, the blue-green algal products examined to date are

> sold as foods, and Health Canada does not allow therapeutic claims for

> substances sold as foods.

>

> Adult consumers who choose to use products containing non-Spirulina

> blue-green algae should do so for short periods of time only. Adverse

> symptoms from long-term use of these products (weeks to months) may

> not be obvious but could range from a feeling of general malaise or

> gastrointestinal discomfort, to jaundice. Concerned consumers should

> contact their health care professionals for advice [4].

>

> In May 2000, the Oregon Department of Health released data from a

> survey which found that 63 out of 87 samples contained microcystin

> levels above its regulatory limit of 1 microgram/gram. The published

> abstract states:

>

> The presence of blue-green algae (BGA) toxins in surface waters used

> for drinking water sources and recreation is receiving increasing

> attention around the world as a public health concern. . . . BGA

> products are commonly consumed in the United States, Canada, and

> Europe for their putative beneficial effects, including increased

> energy and elevated mood. Many of these products contain Aphanizomenon

> flos-aquae, a BGA that is harvested from Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) in

> southern Oregon, where the growth of a toxic BGA, Microcystis

> aeruginosa, is a regular occurrence. M. aeruginosa produces compounds

> called microcystins, which are potent hepatotoxins and probable tumor

> promoters. Because M. aeruginosa coexists with A. flos-aquae, it can

> be collected inadvertently during the harvesting process, resulting in

> microcystin contamination of BGA products. In fall 1996, the Oregon

> Health Division learned that UKL was experiencing an extensive M.

> aeruginosa bloom, and an advisory was issued recommending against

> water contact. The advisory prompted calls from consumers of BGA

> products, who expressed concern about possible contamination of these

> products with microcystins. In response, the Oregon Health Division

> and the Oregon Department of Agriculture established a regulatory

> limit of 1 µg/g for microcystins in BGA-containing products and tested

> BGA products for the presence of microcystins. Microcystins were

> detected in 85 of 87 samples tested, with 63 samples (72%) containing

> concentrations > 1 µg/g. HPLC and ELISA tentatively identified

> microcystin-LR, the most toxic microcystin variant, as the predominant

> congener [5].

>

> The Bottom Line

>

> Spirulina products contain no nutrients that are not readily available

> from food -- at a much lower price. They have no proven value for

> treating any medical problem, and some may contain potent toxins.

>

> For Additional Information

> • Health Canada Online. Information sheet on blue-green algae (May

> 1999)

> • Health Canada Online. Information: Blue-Green Algal Products

> (September 1999)

> • Health Canada Online. Testing methodology for blue green algal

> products (September 1999)

> • Health Canada Online. Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and their

> toxins (June 2003)

>

> References

> 1. Barrett S, Herbert V. The Vitamin Pushers: How the " Health Food "

> Industry Is Selling Americans a Bill of Goods. Amherst NY: Prometheus

> Books, 1994.

> 2. Ballantine C. The trial of the blue-green algae eaters. FDA

> Consumer 20(6):33-34, 1986.

> 3. Barrett S. Cell Tech loses false advertising suit. Quackwatch,

> July 25, 2003.

> 4. Health Canada announces results of blue - green algal products

> testing - only Spirulina found Microcystin - free. Health Canada news

> release, Sept 17, 1999.

> 5. Gilroy GJ and others. Assessing potential health risks from

> microcystin toxins in blue-green algae dietary supplements.

> Environmental Health Perspectives 108:435-439, 2000.

>

> Quackwatch Home Page

>

> This article was revised on July 25, 2003.

>

> «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«

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>

[Guest guest]

, Ed Siceloff <siceloff@e...>

wrote:

> I have great degree of difficulty believing governmental

> pronouncements.

 

I do to Ed!! I would love to see the data contained in the testing on

these types of products by the manufacturers test facility not just

for Blue green algae but other products also

I think they need to be compared and taken into account which is using

the least effective test which these days seems to be the most costly

also at least in the case of madcow

rite if you want the best results you can get, regardless

you run the least efficient tests against the undesired results

and wa la

 

low occurence of undesired results

happens all the time with test results signed off on by medical ghost

writers

Could Carol be the one to post the testings and blast the the gubment?

I HOPE SO!!

but I just dont think they'll let her do that

who knows tho'?

 

 

 

it is better to stick with the information

> developed by traditional cultures and the ways in which they use

the

> herbs as foods, as well as medicines.

>

> Ed

>