Dietary supplement coalition speaks out against bogus swine flu claims

WASHINGTON A coalition of associations representing the dietary supplement industry on Friday urged marketers and retailers of dietary supplements to refuse to stock or sell any supplements that are presented as treating or curing swine flu.

Simply put, there is currently no scientific data supporting the use of any product to treat the H1N1 virus, save early indications from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that prescription antivirals Tamiflu and Relenza have had some success in treating the virus. And as it pertains to dietary supplements more specifically, “federal law does not allow dietary supplements to claim to treat any diseases, including swine flu,” the coalition stated.

The organizations supporting this advisory represent the majority of dietary supplement manufacturers, and include the American Herbal Products Association, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the Natural Products Association and the United Natural Products Alliance.

“Each of the associations and its member companies remain committed to providing the American public with high quality products for supporting personal health and permitting ‘self-care’ choices,” the coalition stated in a joint statement. “Each of the associations is also committed to recognizing that there are some health conditions for which the choice of self-care should be actively discouraged. The current global outbreak of swine flu is such a condition.”