FDA Cracks Down On Ephedra Product

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Yellow Jackets Promoted As Street Drug Alternative

POSTED: 10:19 a.m. EDT October 8, 2002 UPDATED: 3:40 p.m. EDT October 8, 2002

WASHINGTON -- Federal health regulators are trying to put a stop to an herbal product promoted as an alternative to illegal street drugs.

The Food and Drug Administration is halting imports of Yellow Jackets. The agency also sent a "cyber letter" to the Dutch operator of an Internet site selling the pills stating that it is illegal to market dietary supplements as alternatives to cocaine and other drugs.

Yellow Jackets contain the legal herb ephedra and other stimulants such as caffeinating kola nut extract. There does not appear to be any legitimate drug use for this product, the FDA said.

"Consumers should not purchase or use these or similar products available through the Internet or elsewhere," said Dr. Lester Crawford, FDA deputy commissioner. "FDA will continue its efforts to protect American consumers from dangerous and fraudulent Internet companies who would sell illegal products that present risks to public health."

The parents of a 16-year-old high school football player who died after taking Yellow Jackets testified before a Senate hearing Tuesday on the broader safety issue of all supplements containing ephedra. Sean Riggins of Lincoln, Ill., said his son died of a heart attack. The county coroner said the heart attack was due to Yellow Jackets.

Even legal ephedra is highly controversial. It's been linked to dozens of deaths.

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said the FDA's halt on Yellow Jackets isn't enough. He said he can't understand why the agency allows ephedra to be sold.

Durbin also attacked a separate seller of ephedra, Metabolife, saying it tried to hide its own records of heart attacks among users. A lawyer for Metabolife said the company has improved its reporting system.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2002


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