Institute of Medicine wants rules for vitamin supplements; also beware the Codex Alimentarius Commission -- WHO,U.N.

Story dated 14 January 2005

Do you take vitamin supplements? I do. I have all my life, and I rarely get sick. The major medical attention I have ever had was for injuries. The Institute of Medicine has expressed concern over the reliability of supplements -- though in my opinion, their energies would be better spent investigating the poisons administered to us through prescription drugs. This organization has many concerns over the measurable effects of vitamin supplements. "The Federal Trade Commission has reported a flurry of unfounded or exaggerated claims for supplements, the IOM report notes. It calls on Congress and federal agencies to set standards for manufacturing quality." I suppose the anecdote I opened with was an 'unfounded claim'. I get very nervous when the government starts talking about helping us. Something tells me that the price I pay for vitamins is about to go up. While I agree with critics that that manufacturers should be required to report proven adverse events, and that they shouldn't make false or misleading claims about their product, I would prefer that the industry be left alone, thank you. I have been taking vitamins for 26 years and if I was going to suffer any adverse effects, I would have done so by now. Oh, sorry -- another 'unfounded claim'. I would urge that alternative medicine organizations form their own version of Underwriters Laboratories for vitamin supplements to ensure quality before the government sticks us with a sub-standard monstrosity of a bureaucracy that cost twice as much and gives half the quality. Maybe the National Health Federation could fill such a role, or be instrumental in the formation of such a quality-assurance laboratory.

Our domestic government is not the only danger to our medical freedom. Enter the Codex Alimentarius Commission. "[T]he Codex Alimentarius Commission is an international body establishing global trade standards for foods. Sponsored jointly by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, it has various committees dealing with specific food issues." Scott Tips reports that "[t]he committee concerned with food supplements is the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses. . . This particular committee is important to you because it is establishing "guidelines" that will govern the international trade in vitamins and minerals. And, in my opinion, these euphemistically called "guidelines" will be used not only to exclude superior American dietary supplements from the European marketplace but they will also be used, either directly or by way of example, to stifle the domestic American market in supplements as well." If you want to read more about this, I have provided a link below. Certain people may attempt to say that the Codex is not going to be binding on the U.S., so we won't have to worry about requirements that we lower the potency of our vitamins. However, an "observer, who has covered many Codex meetings, has expressed her opinion that every WTO member country has signed mutual recognition agreements that require them to engage in a constant process of harmonization. As such, the United States and other countries will eventually be forced to harmonize to the Codex "guidelines." Thus, the question of whether the Guidelines are optional or not may be long-since answered."

Do what you like, but I am going to write my Congressman. After all, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty -- that's why I publish this web log
---------"A Meeting of Two" by Scott Tips
---------Don't let vitamins' potency be altered
---------How to Contact Congress

posted by The Sovereign Editor | 3:29 PM

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