Pharmaceutical Quality Control
"I think that supplement stores must be somehow controlled as they are several times tempted to sell a pig in a poke as there are no quality control over its products, in very deep contrast with the common pharmacies."
Carlos, you make good points in rest of your post, however, the above statement is very misleading - in that nobody is dying from supplements compared to toxic drugs. The quality control and sterilization of pharmaceuticals is more from necessity then from their supposedly better manufacturing practices. They are more concerned of being sued than any supplement manufacturer could ever fathom.
Many pharmaceuticals are made from animals. These poor animals are kept perpetually pregnant and/or frequently in pain. Some are unable to function normally and lie in their own feces etc. To eliminate the possibility contamination to humans, drugs from animal products are sterilized with toxic agents made from mercury other toxic products. And frequently, the sterilizing agents has never been tested. So what's the hullabaloo about quantity control? I'll tell you it's just smoke and mirrors to deface the supplement industry and nothing more.
Some supplement companies, at least in US and Canada, are far more quality conscience than untested and sloppy, detached and conscienceless pharmas, see the example of vaccines below:
What Is Coming Through That Needle? The Problem of Pathogenic Vaccine Contamination
Furthermore the false perception build by the pro pharma camp is that supplements don't work is also mostly propaganda - as those that don't work are quickly culled from the market as sales diminish. Remember there is no doctor prescribing these. Doctors frequently are not informed in a timely manner on the dangers of drugs and continue prescribing, while the regulatory bodies look the other way. Only if they think they will get caught or are sued do they jump. The effectiveness of supplements is constantly under regulatory attack as in many instances they have illegally forced the supplement industry to reduce the potencies of the vitamins they sell to a level at which they are ineffective or only marginally effective. The push is on to expand these initiatives via the CODEX. In cases such as vitamin C and others the quality control is a non issue as these are made by the same manufacturer (La Roche in this case) and distributed to both the pharmaceutical and the supplement industry.
On the other hand Supplement manufactures need to be even more careful as they know that regulatory bodies work overtime with all our tax money to protect their pharma friends (to remove any threat/competition from the mostly ethical supplement industry). The supplement industry tends to be more ethical as they are smaller and frequently have personal experience with their products (many started their business because of this).
See also:
Collapse of Conventional Medicine
Expanded from my the post at on sepp's site: June 13, 2003 05:04 PM
Chris GuptaComments in response to: EU supplements directive based on bad science
I think it is rather difficult to practice some Democracy in Europe instead of making almost dictatorial laws since there are not a common language that might keep everybody equally informed. Until that common language should appear we must continue sucking our thumbs instead of supplements. This unfair situation is only the iceberg's top in what concerns a very much bigger problem known as the Big Farms wings. The solution must be taken looking to USA example where there are lobbies from both sides of the barricade, either pro vitamins or pro patented drugs. Trying to see Europe as a whole community we can find nothing but a big hole where everything is still very naïve and adolescent, as everything that is starting from the very beginning. Democracy must be intelligently conquered in is own chess board, as it is not an abstract and given thing. Believing the opposite leads to the Sleeping Beautyfamous tale. On the other hand, referring supplements, what is missing in Europe is a group of scientists typically tied up to the Life Extensionist movement. What about Internet forums dedicated to supplements? I havent seen any except in English language and all Americans initiatives. Nobody can fight alone. Either consumers groups are created in Europe that might educate people and control Big farms lobbies or we better say good bye to vitamins and minerals before we die. Notwithstanding the injustice in some of the nutritional supplements subject I think that supplement stores must be somehow controlled as they are several times tempted to sell a pig in a poke as there are no quality control over its products, in very deep contrast with the common pharmacies. The representatives of the general public must not be storeowners but independent public colligations without money interests as direct money interests are merely handicaps when trying to defend a medical cause. This was an elementary principal that should have been taken in consideration before the last Directives disaster.Posted by Carlos Boni at June 13, 2003 03:26 AM mailto:Carlos.Boni@netc.pt
posted by Chris Gupta on Monday June 16 2003
updated on Saturday September 24 2005URL of this article:
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2003/06/16/pharmaceutical_quality_control.htm
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