From: stvjas@meteor.wisc.edu (Stephen Jascourt)
Newsgroups: sci.med.nutrition
Subject: Re: The Players in Health Freedom
Date: 9 Nov 92 03:58:16 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Meteorology and Space Science

In article <61410007@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com> kingsley@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Kingsley Morse) writes:
>As you may already know, various players are involved in legislation that could
>limit our access to vitamins, minerals, amino acids and herbs. 
>
>The legislation is the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act. 
>
>The interested parties are:
>
>  Health food stores and supplement manufacturers who have organized under the
>  names NNFA (National Nutritional Foods Association), NHA (National Heath
>  Alliance?), CRN, UNPA and CFH. They oppose the legislation.
>
>  The FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The last I've read is that they 
>  want to make amino acids and herbs available only by prescription. I'm not
>  clear on their latest plans for vitamins and minerals. They're chartered
>  to protect the public's health.
>
>  Californian representative Henry Waxman. Health food organizations suggest
>  that special interest groups have contributed millions to his campaign funds 
>  in return for protecting the established medical community. Representatives
>  can redirect excess campaign funds to fellow representatives who vote 
>  "correctly", and the same health food organizations claim Rep. Waxman 
>  controls the votes of up to 150 other representatives.

Waxman has a history of being one of the few true consumer advocates in
congress, trying to protect consumers. In this case, he probably thinks he is
protecting us against misleading and inaccurate claims by companies marketing
"health" products. We may have some chance of turning him around if we can
convince him that he is actually limiting access against the best interests of
the consumers, and to explain the whole mess between the medical profession
and the vitamins/etc. industry which has been talked about (from various
angles) in this newsgroup. That the use of the vitamins and minerals and
amino acids in larger than normally consumed in one's diet is controversial
leads congresspeople like Waxman to think that consumers have to be 
protected against injuring themselves in activities the consumers don't 
realize are dangerous, but Waxman may not understand that he would be
making it more difficult for some people to gain access to things which in
fact *are* helping them. Also, he might be sympathetic to the argument that
the millions of people without medical insurance wouldn't be able to afford
the doctor's appointments to get perscriptions for what they now get 
over the counter. Labelling standards and not permitting wild claims on
labels/advertisements should be required; I don't know how that stands now.

>  Sen. Orin Hatch, who has introduced the Health Freedom Act of 1992, which 
>  would limit FDA regulation of health food stores and manufacturers.

This is consistent with Hatch's traditional de-regulate stance which in its
vintage form is a consumer-beware, industry doesn't owe you anything including
truth in advertising. This may be the first time ever that Hatch has come
out in favor of consumers (I could be wrong, but it certainly is unusual
for him), so just be aware of the likes of whom you are supporting.

>  Congress, which recently agreed to a delaying the FDA's regulation for
>  one year. 
>
>  Consumers, who have a little more time to ask their congressmen and women
>  to vote accordingly on Senator Hatch's Health Freedom Act.

Stephen Jascourt    stvjas@meteor.wisc.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med.nutrition