FDA Calls Natural Yeast A Drug

On August 9th the FDA issued a warning to the public against buying or consuming three red yeast rice products sold on the internet. The FDA stated as their primary reasons for this action; “The products may contain an unauthorized drug that could be harmful to health. The products are promoted as dietary supplements for treating high cholesterol.”

The FDA goes on to list the “potentially harmful products” and the companies involved; Swanson Healthcare, Nature’s Value, Kabco and Sunburst Biorganics. The letter states, “FDA testing revealed the products contain lovastatin, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Mevacor, a prescription drug approved for marketing in the United States as a treatment for high cholesterol.” It goes on to say,” “This risk is even more serious because consumers may not know the side effects associated with lovastatin and the fact that it can adversely interact with other medications," said Steven Galson, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. These red yeast rice products are a threat to health because the possibility exists that lovastatin can cause severe muscle problems leading to kidney impairment.”

In keeping with FDA policy warning letters were sent to Swanson and Sunburst Biorganics advising them to halt promotion and sales of the products at the risk of further legal action.

At face value this would seem to be nothing more than a caring, compassionate act of a Government organization, intent on your safety and health. But is there more to it than this?

Read the full article at newstarget.com