Metabolife response
responding to calls for an investigation into reports of
side-effects caused by its ephedra products.
Nutritional supplement maker Metabolife has issued a statement responding to calls for an investigation into reports of side-effects caused by its ephedra products.
On Friday the Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation into Metabolife, the San Diego- based maker of Metabolife 356 ephedra dietary supplement, after the Food and Drug Administration questioned whether the company had made false statements regarding the existence of side-effect reports on the supplement.
Jan Strode, a spokeswoman for the company, said : "Metabolife supports the request by theCalifornia Health Services Director, Dr Diana Bonta, calling for federalregulation of ephedra-containing dietary supplements. More specifically, Metabolife, since 1996, has called for labelling requirements and prohibitionson the sale of ephedra products to minors. This is similar to the bill nowbeing advanced by the California legislature."
She continued: "Metabolife has long advocated support for a science-based regulation ofephedra at the state and federal levels, which would include appropriateserving limits, prohibition on the sale of these products to persons under 18,strict label warnings, and a prohibition on promotion of such products asalternatives to illicit drugs."
The lawsuit filed by attorney Archie Lamb is aiming to establish a fund to test and treat users of the product as well as compensate those injured by the "heavily marketed" supplement.
