December 20, 2002. Kava kava ban
The Medicines Control Agency (U.K.) has completed its evaluation of kava kava, and has issued a ban on this herb in the U.K. due to potential health risks associated with its use. [ more info in PDF format ]
December 5, 2002. FTC Action
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Mark Nutritionals, Inc. for making unsubstantiated claims about its weight loss product, Body Solutions Evening Weight Loss Formula. [ more info ]
October 8, 2002. Ephedra Warning
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new warning concerning the safety and marketing of ephedra and ephedrine compounds as dietary supplements. [ more info ]
September 17, 2002. FTC Action
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against a Canadian based corporation dba in the U.S. as Bio Lab for making unsubstantiated claims about its weight loss products Quick Slim, and Cellu-Fight. [ more info ]
August 21, 2002. Kava advisory
Health Canada has issued a "stop-sale order" (nationwide ban) on dietary supplements containing kava due to lack of sufficient evidence that this herb is safe for human use. [ more info ]
August 15, 2002. Ephedra/Metabolife advisory
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement concerning the use of the dietary supplement ephedra and, more particularly the brand name Metabolife, due to potential health risks associated with the use of this herbal. [ more info ]
August 13, 2002. Diet pill advisory
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a health advisory concerning the use of Chinese weight loss products Chaso (Jianfei) Diet Capsules and Chaso Genpi because they contain the potentially dangerous substance fenfluramine. [ more info ]
July 18, 2002. Kava advisory
The Medicines Control Agency (U.K.) has updated its May 13 statement concerning the potential health risks associated with the use of the herbal kava kava, and is now considering a prohibition of the herb in the U.K. [ more info in PDF format ]
June 19, 2002. BotanicLab Warning
Health Canada has issued a warning concerning seven herbal products manufactured by the U.S. firm, BotanicLab. The dietary supplements cited contain undeclared prescription drugs that could cause serious health effects if used without proper medical supervision. [ more info ]
June 14, 2002. Ephedra advisory
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services has issued an advisory concerning the herbal supplement ephedra, and derivative ephedrine alkaloids, because of the potential of serious health effects associated with their use. [ more info ]
May 16, 2002. Aristolochic acid warning
Health Canada has issued a warning concerning Longdan and Lung Tan Xie Gan herbal products as they may contain aristolochic acid, a compound considered to pose a potentially serious health risk in humans. [ more info ]
For additional products that may contain this herbal ingredient, please see our summary of alerts and recalls for aristolochic acid.
May 13, 2002. Kava advisory follow-up
The Medicines Control Agency (U.K.) has issued a statement, in response to a published article in the Guardian (U.K.) on May 10, 2002, regarding its advisory in December 2001 advising consumers about the potential health risks associated with the use of the herbal kava kava. [ more info in PDF format ]
April 5, 2002. Hua Fo warning (follow-up)
Health Canada has issued a follow-up warning concerning the herbal product Hua Fo, as this unapproved herbal remedy has been shown to contain a substance similar to a prescription drug that should not be used without medical supervision. [ more info ] [ previous warning ]
March 27, 2002. Meridia advisory
Health Canada has issued an advisory concerning potential adverse reactions resulting from the use of the prescription drug Meridia® (sibutramine), a medication commonly used for the treatment of obesity. [ more info ]
March 25, 2002. Kava advisory
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a consumer advisory on the potential dangers of severe liver injury associated with the use of dietary supplement products containing the herbal ingredient kava (kava-kava). [ more info ]
February 15, 2002. Hua Fo warning
Health Canada has issued a warning requesting that consumers not use the herbal product Hua Fo, as this unapproved herbal remedy has been shown to contain a prescription drug that should not be used without medical supervision. [ more info ]
February 7, 2002. SPES Recall
The California Department of Health Services has issued a press release concerning the recall of BotanicLab's dietary supplements PC SPES and SPES. Consumers are warned to stop using the herbal products because they contain undeclared prescription drug ingredients that could cause serious health effects if not taken under medical supervision. [ more info ]
January 16, 2002. Kava advisory
Health Canada has issued an advisory requesting that consumers not use dietary supplement products containing the herbal ingredient kava (kava-kava), in light of recent reports of liver toxicity related to the use of kava products in Europe. [ more info ]
January 9, 2002. Ephedra advisory
Health Canada has issued an advisory requesting the recall of certain dietary supplement products containing ephedra/ephedrine, after a risk assessment concluded that such products pose a risk of serious health hazards. [ more info ]
January~December 2001. Alert Archive 2001
January~December 2000. Alert Archive 2000
January~December 1999. Alert Archive 1999