FDA issues injunction against Wilderness Family Naturals for efficacy claims

ROCKVILLE, Md. The Food and Drug Administration has issued a permanent injunction against a distributor of dietary supplements, salves and conventional foods, alleging that it made false claims of its products’ ability to treat, cure, mitigate and prevent diseases, the FDA said Tuesday.

The agency alleges that Silver Bay, Minn.-based Wilderness Family Naturals claimed benefits for its products against diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, hyperthyroidism, HIV and AIDS.

The company has signed a consent decree prohibiting it from manufacturing or distributing any products with unapproved claims of benefits against disease. The company has agreed to remove disease claims from its products? labels, labeling and Web sites, as well as references to other Web sites that contain such claims.

“The FDA is acting to product the American public from companies making unapproved disease treatment claims for their products,” FDA acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs Michael Chappell said in a statement. “Claims made by Wilderness Family might distract consumers from seeking products that have been shown to be safe and effective in treating disease.”