Public warned vs food supplements

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino consumers are spending more than P75 billion a year on food and herbal supplements, which the health department said do not have therapeutic effects and, worse, may have “harmful side-effects.”

They “do not really need these food supplements for health and well-being,” the Department of Health advised the public in HEALTHbeat, its official publication.

“The best way to stay healthy and avoid most diseases is still to adopt a healthy lifestyle with daily exercise, eating food low in salt, sugar, saturated and trans fats but high in fibers, maintaining a desired weight, abstaining from tobacco and alcohol, and having regular medical checkups,” said the DoH.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral has repeatedly asked the public not to be misled by food supplements’ exaggerated claims of efficacy.

“Many are being misled into thinking that these food supplements can cure diseases when in fact, they can’t,” she said.

No substitute for drugs

Food supplements, many of which are endorsed by celebrities, are “not drugs and have no special powers to cure or help cure health conditions like poor eyesight, arthritis, liver problems, diabetes, cancer of what-have-you that glossy advertisements say complete with testimonials of ‘cured’ patients,” the DoH said.

“The way food supplements are being advertised is making people believe they can be substituted for drugs or medicines,” it said.

The use of celebrity endorsers in testimonials about the supposed curative effects of food supplements has made the food and herbal supplements industry an even more lucrative venture, the DoH said.

According to HEALTHbeat, these products are being used to add nutrients to the regular diet.

But “there is no scientific evidence to prove that food supplements can cure certain diseases or health disorders,” it said.

“These products cannot take the place of medicines,” it added.

Cabral clarified that health authorities are “not against the food and herbal supplements industry, but it is in the best interest of the people that they be armed with the right information on these products.”

Last March, the DoH issued Administrative Order No. 8 which requires manufacturers of food supplements to “make it clear to buyers that the products are not to be considered medicines.”

The DoH also asked the manufacturers to replace the “No approved therapeutic claim” warning that is printed on food supplements with “Important notice: This product is not a medicine and is not to be used in treating diseases.”

Misleading ads are considered a violation of Republic Act 9711. Violators face jail terms of up to 10 years and fines ranging from P50,000 to P5 million.

Correct labeling

The Philippine Society of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Wednesday issued a statement in support of the DoH’s campaign for the correct labeling of all health and food supplement products.

“Harassment through cases filed against the DoH are uncalled for and are meant to protect trade interests over public health and patients’ right to choice,” the group said in a statement. –Jerry E. Esplanada, Philippine Daily Inquirer