Many of these products claim to block starch, carbohydrates and fat calories, while allowing consumers to lose weight without any changes in lifestyle. For example, some of the product labels have claimed:
"These products give unfounded hope to people who are attempting to lose weight. False and misleading claims have significant health consequences to individuals that may be overweight because these products do not produce the desired results," said Acting FDA Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D. "FDA will continue to enforce the law and pursue products that lure consumers with unsubstantiated weight loss claims."
Although dietary supplement labeling may include claims about the supplement's effect on the structure or function of the human body, the law requires that "structure/function" claims must have substantiation and be truthful and not misleading. After reviewing the claims of the various products, FDA concluded that claims being made regarding these products are not supported by reliable scientific evidence.
FDA is requesting a response from the firms in writing within 15 days of receipt of the warning letters stating the action the firms will take to correct the noted violations and to ensure that similar violations do not occur in the future.
Consumers who have purchased any of these products should contact the firms' customer service department about their "return policy." Copies of the warning letters can be found online at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/wl-list.html.
