Are we wasting our money on quack health food? It looks like we do, according to Scottish researchers. Up to the billions, in fact. And especially on products disguised as weight loss remedies. According to an estimate by this report in the British Journal of Medicine, people in the US spent $35 billion dollar in 2000 on weight loss products.

In these days where obesity is becoming an epidemic, there are surely lots of potential customers to trick out there.

A lot of weight loss remedies are marketed as nutritional or dietary supplements and are therefore not subject to the strict regulations set by health and drug authorities like the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

Many of these remedies (in the form of pills, tea, and other drinks) are useless, even dangerous (see this FDA warning). Many contain misleading brand names, labels, and packaging which usually contain unsubstantiated claims of health benefits.

The study authors went on to say that of all the numerous weight loss products currently on sale, “only energy-restricted diets and exercise, the drugs orlistat and sibutramine, and in some cases bariatric surgery, are safe, effective and cost-effective.” The rest are quack.

The latest regulations in the European Union may be able to prevent this blatant exploitation of consumers. The EU Directive on Unfair Commercial Practices was adopted by some EU countries this year and among its provisions is the banning of advertisements that encourage children to buy high calorie, fattening products.

Now, I think that is a step in the right direction.

Last week, Chinese officials issued a statement that the issue of melamine-food products is resolved. End of the story.

Well, not quite. As a fellow BOL blogger wrote a few days ago, more and more tainted products have come to light.

The US FDA must have their hands full with the problem. Just a few days ago, the regulatory body issued a health advisory warning against the Taiwanese-made Mr Brown coffee and milk tea.

Thanks to international cooperation, health officials in other countries are sharing information to warn the international community of tainted products they detect. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority, for example, reported a positive melamine test for White Rabbit Creamy Candies imported from China.

In addition, the FDA is also tightening the labelling of imported food products. It is proposed that products refused or rejected entry in a US port be labeled clearly as such. When products are refused entry to the US, they should normally be destroyed.

Some food importers try the so-called “port shopping” strategy of importing – trying to get through another port with less stringent checks. By clearly labelling refused products on official documents as well as on the shipping container, port shopping is avoided. Furthermore, other countries will also then be privy to the import status of the product and can carefully conduct checks of their own.

The problem of melamine-tainted products will cost Chinese companies and multinationals with Chinese subsidiaries millions of dollars. Under the FDA proposal,

“all owners or consignees of refused food would be required to affix a label to the shipping container that reads: “UNITED STATES: REFUSED ENTRY” in clear, conspicuous, print.

Let’s hopethat this proposed labelling will deter unscrupulous import companies from dumping tainted products in ports and countries with less vigilant or dishonest food safety. authorities.