Seems the FDA has been busy, and frankly, they muddy the waters, too.
In yesterday's post, I told you about the FDA's research into melamine-tainted baby formula. It seems they've tested 89 different formulas, including all those well known names like Enfamil and Similac, and found trace amounts of either melamine, or its trigger toxin, cyanuric acid in a handful of them. However, despite the findings, they are not requesting recalls or asking manufacturers to stop including those ingredients in the formula. They have their reasons, whether or not we might agree with them.
A few weeks ago, I alerted you to their list of contaminated, dangerous, and probably counterfeit diet drugs. At the time, the FDA had listed 28 different drugs that you can buy, over the counter, that may not only NOT help you lose weight, but may make you sick or even kill you.
Now the list has been expanded. There are 61 drugs on the list, and some of the names even sound like those we see in infomercials and newspaper ads. If you've considered taking a drug to help you lose weight, or if you have been taking a drug, or even have weight loss drugs in your medicine cabinet, you'll want to learn more about them and check the list. They are dangerous.
So -- why the FDA confusion? It's a lack of consistency. Approvals and disapprovals, warnings and no warnings, testing and lack of testing -- it leads to inconsistency that confuses and makes us wonder -- which information can we trust?
And that distrust, or at least those questions about trust go to the core of the FDA's work. It's supposed to protect us.
And personally, I find it more than a little disconcerting that when the manufacturers involved are American companies, like the melamine ingredients in baby formula, then those are OK. But if they are Chinese companies involved, like last fall's baby formula with melamine, or this most recent diet drug alert, then those aren't OK. Is it possible that the American companies are getting a pass, simply because they are American?
Melamine is melamine. Contamination is contamination. Danger is danger. Is this a question of politics? or Safety?
As smart patients, it's up to us to protect ourselves. And our babies. The problem is knowing when, how and who to believe.
In this case? I'm avoiding the diet drugs, and warning my daughter-in-law about the formula. I have a grandbaby to protect, and -- with appreciation to the FDA at least for this part (more confusion!) -- there are many formulas that don't contain melamine.
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