FDA Warns About Hydroxycut

I was watching TV this morning and I saw a commercial advertising one of those ambulance-chasing law firms that are so common nowadays. The announcer was saying, "If you have taken Hydroxycut and have experienced any side effects (yada, yada), call us. We will fight for your rights!" Translation: "If you have taken Hydroxycut - you've been screwed! Call us so we can help you sue somebody. We need your help to get our grubby paws into someone's deep pockets." I had never heard of Hydroxycut before, so I decided to do a little research to find out just what the hell they were talking about.

Hydroxycut is a popular weight loss supplement made by the Canadian-based company Iovate Health Sciences Inc. It is taken by millions of people each year and sold in over 70 countries worldwide. On May 1, 2009 the US food and drug administration issued a warning about Hydroxycut, advising consumers to immediately stop using the product. The FDA cited "23 reports of serious health problems" related to the taking of Hydroxycut. These serious health problems included jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, liver damage requiring transplant, and unfortunately, one death due to liver failure. The FDA warning went on to state, "Although the liver damage appeared to be relatively rare, FDA believes consumers should not be exposed to unnecessary risks." Shortly after this warning was issued by the FDA, Iovate voluntarily recalled Hydroxycut in the US and Canada.

So after reading this information and mulling it over for a little while, I had to scratch my head in amazement. I can understand the FDA wanting to protect us from "unnecessary risks", but they have just basically issued a death sentence (although I know it was a voluntary recall by Iovate) to a product that millions have taken safely for nearly 7 years. And for what? Just because they had 23 reports of health problems? If there have been millions of people taking Hydroycut safely over the years, 23 cases doesn't seem to me to be a big problem. I'm sorry for the 23 cases and don't want to see people injured by a product that is truly unsafe, but aren't those numbers statistically insignificant?

Don't get me wrong, I realize that for the 23 people who are affected by this, it's a very big deal and my heart goes out to them. I really don't care if Hydroxycut is recalled (other than for something to argue about) because I don't take it, nor do I know anybody who does. But that's not the point I'm trying to make. I mean, if the FDA is so concerned about protecting the public from "unnecessary risks" then why don't they ban cigarettes and booze? Cigarettes and booze kill hundreds of thousands each and every year! And aren't there a whole host of consumer products available today which lead to many more cases of health problems and death? Just as an example, while researching this article I came across a website that reported that 24 children died and 3 required liver transplants because they took acetaminophen - that's Tylenol! Did the FDA issue a statement saying everyone should stop taking Tylenol? Should Tylenol be taken off the shelves?

It seems to me that Hydroxycut is just an easy target, and may be likened to being a big fish in a small pond that was easy to catch, clean, and mount on the FDA's wall. It is a way for the FDA to point and say, "Look, we are doing our job. We protected you." By the way, when I asked before why the FDA doesn't ban cigarettes and booze, it was a rhetorical question. I already knew the answer to that question. The FDA is not going to ban cigarettes and booze because (no matter how many people die) these two products generate high levels of tax revenue for the US government. And it is my contention that if Hydroxycut generated high tax revenue for the US government then the FDA would not have issued this warning on Hydroxycut. It seems like the FDA is practicing selective enforcement. That's just my opinion, and I'm entitled to it. Thank you, and I hope I passed the audition.

Sources:
http://www.hydroxycutinformation.com/ -- HydroxycutInformation.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxycut -- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW02006.html -- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA News)
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/02/acetaminophen-deaths.aspx -- Mercola.com Take Control Of Your Health