On May 1st, 2009 Invigorate360 was shocked when the FDA recalled 14 types of Hydroycut products due to the death of a 19 year-old male and 23 reports of liver damage. Similarly to the ban of Ephedra in 2004, the FDA singled out a product that has sold 9 million bottles in 2008 alone. Results will most likely make diet products even more dangerous in the future. Invigorate360 will be posting a poll to get your opinion on whether the FDA unfairly targets diets products and supplements.
With the FDA recall of Hydroxycut products on Friday, Invigorate360 will no longer be selling Hydroxycut products as long as they are recalled. They have been removed from the site for the safety and health of our customers.
On the same day that invigorate360.com released their survey on the FDA and over-the-counter health products, the FDA banned the popular weight loss supplement Hydroxycut due to the death of a 19 year-old man and 23 reports of liver damage. The death of the teen occurred in 2007 and was just reported to the FDA in March. The manufacturers of Hydroxycut, Iovate recalled 14 of their products to be cautious. The FDA reports that “one death due to liver failure has been reported to the FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.” They also state that “At least 9 million packages were sold last year“. Even though the FDA continues to target diet products, Invigorate360′s survey showed that 62% of respondents did support FDA regulation.
I many ways this recall bears similarity to the ban of Ephedrine in 2004. In an article regarding the ephedrine ban and the death of Steve Bechler published in 2004 by getbig.com and bodybuilding.com, the author argues that “Xenadrine did not cause or contribute to Mr. Bechler’s death… He died of a heat stroke precipitated by his morbid obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease, adverse weather conditions, physical exertion, and inadequate screening, monitoring and medical supervision, NOT EPHEDRA.” Unlike pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA and so they currently rely on voluntary reports by individuals. Considering that only 23 people, have reported problems with Hydroxycuts out of the millions of bottles sold to consumers who saw results from the products, one has to wonder why the sports nutrition industry has been singled out by the FDA. First of all, in a country where obesity, especially childhood obesity, has become an epidemic and cigarettes are sold at every street corner, why doesn’t the FDA ban McDonalds and Altria’s Marlboro brand?
Secondly, who’s to say that the teens death and the 23 reports of liver damage are actually related to Hydroxycuts? Maybe these individuals already had liver damage, possibly from alcohol habits or other causes of liver conditions. Its possible that, just like the death of Steve Bechler, the autopsy report will state that Hydroxycut was the not responsible for his death. The inconsistent and unreliable recalls by the FDA force consumers to question the reliability of the FDA and the products they decide to target.
Just like the ban on Ephedrine we are sure to see serious changes in the manufacturing practices of sports nutrition companies. Following the ban on Ephedrine companies began using whatever ingredients they could find to create a similar effect to Ephedrine. Many of these ingredients are far more dangerous than Ephedrine. Products were manufactured with ephedrine HCL, Clenbuterol and other over-the-counter health products that prove far more dangerous. It is also common to find large doses of Yohimbe and various Caffeine sources in most energy drinks and diet products.
So what will be the results of the Hydroxycut ban? Will the FDA’s witch hunt actually provide the consumer with any positive results, or will it drive companies to yet again find new and dangerous ways to circumvent then the FDA’s arbitrary recalls. Even more importantly, will it actually prevent individuals from tackling obesity by preventing products that when used in conjunction with exercise and a healthy diet have been proven effective by independent university studies and research? Only time will tell.
Conditionnutrition.com will be posting a new survey specifically addressing the recall on Hydroxycut. Individuals will be able to vote on whether they believe that the FDA unfairly targets diets products and supplements. Comments posted in the survey will be released in a followup press release and in the news.
I think this ban on Hydroxycut is ridiculous. I think that it is an individual’s right to be properly informed of the possible side effects, but it should be our choice to make. I completely agree with your comment on McDonald’s and Marlboro’s. They contribute to a ridiculous amount of deaths DAILY, and no one’s closing them down. They were just smart enough to give the right guy at the FDA his “kickback”. I was VERY upset at the ephedrine ban years ago. And now that I’ve found something somewhat comparable; they’re cutting that off too! For those of us who lead very busy, active lives and can take supplements responsibly; there has to be a way to stand up for our rights?!? I’d say this is the same as Prohibition. Who are they to tell me what I can and cannot do as long as I’m not harming anyone else in the process!
Hey, Just wanted to let you know that your site isn’t loading properly on my iPhone. Do you know if there’s some setting I need to use to make it show properly? Everything is out of line.
Great stuff here
The FDA is rediculous. They approve prescription drugs that cause more harm and deaths than any OTC drug. Doesn’t make any sense to me.
The FDA allows so many prescribed medications out with so many side effects, including death, but when it comes to OTC supplements, they become WORRIED??? Listen to the commercials about prescribtion medicines and the disclaimers afterwards. It’ll cure your headache, but will cause liver failure, heart failure, lung failure, etc.