Seasilver

Seasilver is the trademarked name of a commercial dietary supplement[1] produced and sold by the companies Seasilver USA, Inc. and Americaloe, Inc.[2]

The product was promoted with the false claim that it could "cure 650 diseases", resulting in the prosecution and fining of the companies' owners.[3]

Legal history

In 2002 the US Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter to the product's promoters for making unsubstantied health claims.[2][4]

In 2003 US$5.6 million worth of product was seized by the FDA[1] and in the following year the company owners were issued with an order banning them for falsely promoting the Seasilver product, and fining them US$120 million, suspended to US$3 million if the fine was paid promptly.[3] Following non-payment and a failed appeal, the full fine of US$120 was re-affirmed by a ruling in 2008.[3]

Health effect

The Seasilver product includes a variety of ingredients including pau d'arco, cranberry and aloe. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, "no studies have shown the efficacy of this costly product",[1] and Quackwatch say there is "no logical reason to use the product".[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Seasilver". Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 29 September 2012. Retrieved August 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations – Warning Letter". Food and Drug Administration. 3 April 2002. Retrieved August 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Court orders Seasilver defendants to pay $120 million". Nutraceuticals World 11 (6): 14. 2008.
  4. 1 2 Stephen Barrett, M.D. (August 2004). "Misleading Claims for Seasilver™". Quackwatch. Retrieved August 2013.

External links

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