CVS Corp. announced last Friday that it will stop selling all ephedra-based diet products at its 4,100 drug stores on Aug 1.
It was less than a month ago that MNB reported on the "swelling tide of litigation" aimed at companies that make dietary supplements such as ephedra, challenging the scientific methods and evidence used to support their marketing claims.
Ephedra is an herbal ingredient found in dietary supplement, and it has been criticized since Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler. died with the drug in his system during spring training.
CVS said the move was in part a response to actions taken by several communities where the company has stores to ban ephedra.
Companies such as GNC, and states such as Illinois, have banned ephedra sales.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated that every bottle of ephedra must soon carry warnings that the herb can cause potentially fatal heart attacks or strokes.
It was less than a month ago that MNB reported on the "swelling tide of litigation" aimed at companies that make dietary supplements such as ephedra, challenging the scientific methods and evidence used to support their marketing claims.
Ephedra is an herbal ingredient found in dietary supplement, and it has been criticized since Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler. died with the drug in his system during spring training.
CVS said the move was in part a response to actions taken by several communities where the company has stores to ban ephedra.
Companies such as GNC, and states such as Illinois, have banned ephedra sales.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated that every bottle of ephedra must soon carry warnings that the herb can cause potentially fatal heart attacks or strokes.
- KC's View:
- Good move, proactive and responsible.
