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Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by Stephen Barrett, M.D., and cosponsored by NCAHF and Quackwatch. It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. William M. London, Ed.D, M.P.H., is associate editor. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available.
Issue #07-50, December 25, 2007
- Compounding pharmacy in serious trouble
- “Rogue” Internet pharmacies listed
- Internet pharmacy ring included former AIDS scammer
- Top-level Mannatech distributor convicted of tax evasion
Issue #07-49, December 18, 2007
- Stem cell fraudsters sentenced to prison
- FDA panel nixes OTC Mevacor
- Valuable anti-fraud resource available
- Phony weight-loss promotions slammed
- Another argyria case surfaces.
Issue #07-48, December 11, 2007
- Please help Quackwatch and Dr. Barrett
Issue #07-47, December 4, 2007
- Policies suggested to improve America’s health status
- Doubt cast on value of spinal manipulation and NSAIDS for acute back pain
- Chelation promoter charged with unprofessional conduct
Issue #07-46, November 27, 2007
- Report skeptical of common knee-pain treatments
- FTC swats “alternative” hormone replacement products
- Chelation clinic owner sentenced to prison for fraud
Issue #07-45, November 20, 2007
- Infomercial scammer cited for contempt of court
- Barry Bonds indicted
- Chelationist will face trial for manslaughter
- Mannatech attacked again
Issue #07-44, November 13, 2007
- NHS officials urged to fluoridate
- Sargenti practitioners disciplined
- Metabolife founder pleads guilty
- Offbeat physician disciplined.
Issue #07-43, November 6, 2007
- Unlicensed pair fined for administering fatal water-only fast
- Hearing highlights abuse at unregulated youth camps
- Arrests reported in alleged Japanese blood test scheme
- Another chelationist loses license
Issue #07-42, October 30, 2007
- Liver toxicity reported among Herbalife users
- Weight-loss fraud tops FTC survey list
Issue #07-41, October 23, 2007
- Texas Medical Board criticizes “hormone allergy” treatment
- Ad authority raps food allergy test claims
- Phony”pain relief” tape buyers can get refunds
- New book debunks sports supplements
Issue #07-40, October 16, 2007
- Compounding pharmacy indicted for illegal hormone sales
- Texas Medical Board blasts “toxic mold” gur
- De-licensed Canadian doctor gets three-year prison sentence
- FTC attacks another spammer
- “Chronic Lyme disease” concept questioned
- FTC expands attack on Trudeau book infomercial
- NHS homeopathic coverage shrinking
- “Ghost hunter” convicted
- FTC debunks cell-phone scare message
- Review blasts homeopathic “provings”
- Kansas battling over dubious injectables
- Bolens hit by large federal tax lien
- Zeolite marketers ordered to stop illegal claims
Issue #07-37, September 25, 2007
- New rules announced for ozone-producing air cleaners
- Another study finds no neurologic damage from vaccines
- New review highlights neck manipulation dangers
- Dore treatment criticized
Issue #07-36, September 18, 2007
- “MCS” guru charged with unprofessional conduct
- Incorrigible infomercial marketer charged again
- Restaurant Association thwarts NYC menu labeling rule
- Hospital Santa Monica closed again
- Top herbal reference updated
Issue #07-35, September 11, 2007
- Two reports blast non-surgical spinal decompression therapy
- Oregon Attorney General curbs DRX9000 marketing
- FTC stops phony weight-loss patch marketers
- Chiropractic publisher sentenced for investment fraud
- Dubious Mexican clinic open again
Issue #07-34, September 4, 2007
- “Organic” food report updated
- Comprehensive meditation review finds little value
- Court curbs bogus device operator
- “Business opportunity” scammer under criminal investigation
- Suit alleging thimerosal-autism connection dismissed
- FTC hits major spammers of alleged hoodia and HCG products
- Pennsylvania chelationist charged with manslaughter
- Florida chelationist disciplined for unsanitary conditions
- Performance report on Arizona homeopathic licensing board published
- FDA warns against using red yeast rice products
- “Quackometer” site develops
- Hulda Clark criticism posted
- Dubious test promoter loses chiropractic license”
- Age-management specialist” ordered to curb advertising
- Antioxidants for cardiovascular disease flunk another test
- FTC subpoenas food advertisers who target children
- FTC seeking refunds for abdominal belt customers
- Scientology accused of harassing author
- Appeals court upholds stringent FDA regulation of experimental drugs
- Naturopaths report low incomes
- British clinic ordered to stop unsubstantiated “detox” claims
- License of chiropractor who gave IV treatments revoked
- Study finds young smokers can get hooked very quickly
- Canadian government updates thimerosal statement
- Kevin Trudeau’s is hawking another “secre”
- Dubious allergy product manufacturer disciplined
- Water purifier vendor accused of using phony tests
- Cochrane reviews data on vitamin C and the common cold
- Saul Green, antiquackery activist, dead at 82
- Lorraine Day ordered to stop illegal advertising
- Another class action suit filed against USANA
- Legislator bribed by chiropractors sentenced to prison
- Breast cancer survival unaffected by diet
- Study finds “abstinence only” programs ineffective
- Web site attacks AIDs denialism
- Eureca Institute operator convicted of unlicensed practice
- More evidence against alleged autism/mercury link
- Suit filed in chelation death
- Consumer Reports pans Lens Doctor
- ACSH updates irradiated foods report
- Psychic researcher rebuked
- Mannatech sued by Texas Attorney General
- California anti-diploma-mill law expires
- Prominent skeptic dies
- FDA Consumer ceases publication
- “Biological dentist” surrenders license
- Texas limits use of unrecognized board certification in advertising
- Hindu priests mobilized to fight polio
- “20/20” blasts Henry Heimlich
- California chiropractic board takes another pro-quackery stance
- Shark cartilage fails major trial
- FTC curbs “HGH” spray sellers
- Medicare fraud strike force generates 34 arrests
- No evidence that psychotherapy increases cancer survival
- Anti-amalgam suit loses
- Review blasts spinal decompression therapy
- Aetna will stop paying for dubious hormone treatments
- Shark cartilage capsules found contaminated
- Chelation therapist charged with killing four patients
- More alleged”sex enhancers” found to contain drug analogs
- Mail-order fraud king dies
- Thought field therapy exposé published
- Evangelistic healer sued for wrongful death and financial improprieties
- Review doubts that group therapy increases cancer survival
- FDA defends aspartame safety
- Compounding pharmacy implicated in three deaths
- Illegal “homeopathic” marketer fined
- New search engine for searching scientific journals
- Device operators charged with insurance fraud
- Spinal decompression device manufacturer raided
- Chiropractic board member’s credential use questioned
- Acupuncture not proven effective for smoking cessation
- Chondroitin takes double hit
- Stem-cell doctor facing more charges
- Herbal “sex aid” recalled
- Paranormal encyclopedia has been posted
- Tobacco company “preventive” campaign criticized
- FDA issues draft guidelines for regulating “CAM” products
- FDA curbs dubious magnetic device “research
- North Carolina issues Medicare insurance warning
- Kidney stone product marketer defies FDA warning
- USANA embroiled in controversy
- Adverse events associated with chiropractic care of children
- Dubious “nutrition” activities questioned
- Leading “NICO” proponent gets five years’ probation
- Intercessory prayer research blasted
- Arkansas rejects antivaccination bill
- Nurses create quack specialty
- Court upholds FDA ephedra ban
- MIAZI Slimming Capsules found to contain prescription drug
- Managed care network excludes implausible methods
- Medscape laments money wasted on implausible research
- Seven indicted in alleged cancer treatment scam
- Chiropractor convicted of sex abuse surrenders license
- Antioxidants hit by pessimistic report
- Parents sentenced for quackery-related child abuse
- Review finds auditory training ineffective
- ACSH reports again on nutrition information in popular magazines
Issue #07-09, February 27, 2007
- Garlic flunks major test
- Pakistani public health leader murdered
- Lavender and tee tree oils display unwanted hormone activity
Issue #07-08, February 20, 2007
- Gillian McKeith restricted
- “Amazing” weight-loss program isn’t
- Food intolerance tests debunked
- GAO calls for greater direct-to-consumer ad oversight
Issue #07-07, February 13, 2007
- Quixtar facing major class-action suit
- Connecticut Attorney General investigating Lyme disease treatment guidelines
- New book debunks faith-healing claims
- New anti-spam tool for Web sites
Issue #07-06, February 6, 2007
- Enviga’s “calorie burning” claims challenged
- Book about “Health Secrets” criticized
- FTC debunks warnings about cell phone telemarketing
- Quackwatch sites increase efficiency
Issue #07-05, January 30, 2007
- DSHEA slightly strengthened
- Former shark cartilage promoters sued again
- Many prescription drugs ads are misleading
Issue #07-04, January 23, 2007
- Human growth hormone panned as antiaging therapy
- Kevin Trudeau may be hustling pool player
- Dubious autism article retracted.
- British authorities halt illegal product sales
- Doctor under investigation for selling bogus cancer cures
Issue #07-03, January 16, 2007
- Infomercial watchdog issues activity report
- High-priced juice promotions criticized
- FDA orders quack cancer remedy marketers to stop
- FTC blasts four major “diet pill” scams
- New law targets Medicaid fraud
- Nonaccredited “medical school” shuts down
- Quackwatch endorses anti-spam service
- Sex hormone trial fails to produce “anti-aging” benefits
- Kava kava sellers sued for wrongful death
- More case reports link neck manipulation to strokes
- Chiropractor disciplined for misleading advertising
- New book laments lack of supplement/herbal regulation
