Diet - Manufacturers

Manufacturers of dietary supplements often seek to promote their product by providing supporting material such as a scientific study or the statement of a medical or nutrition professional. Under certain conditions, this additional material is not considered to be labeling, per se, and is therefore not regulated in the same fashion. If the manufacturer uses a reprinted scientific article, it must be printed in its entirety and must not be accompanied by any added information. Additional publications used in connection with the sale of dietary supplements cannot be misleading, cannot promote a particular manufacturer or brand, must present a balanced view of the available scientific evidence, and must be physically separate from the dietary supplements in the store.

Fish Toxins

Recently, a research was done to determine the risk/benefit trade-offs of eating fish. What they found was that, while it is sensible to avoid the genus of fish that have the maximum concentration of toxins, the upside to having at least two servings of fish per week far outweigh the downside. This recommendation was made for children and all adults including pregnant and nursing women. My advice is to have the two weekly servings of the safe fish on the list and, at the same time, get at the root of the problem by supporting the passage of stricter environmental laws. Our ultimate goal is to reduce the industrial emissions of toxic substances such as methyl mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls that are poisoning the world’s waterways.