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Consumer alert: Shark cartilage recall

JR

The FDA has recalled some shark cartilage capsules.

The brands are listed below. Look here for the relevant lot numbers.

  • Puritan’s Pride
  • Good and Natural
  • Nature’s Bounty
  • Natural Wealth
  • Physiologics
  • Rexall Sundown
  • Vitamin World

Yeah, yeah. It’s “nature” this, and “natural” that. It’s a “bounty” and “physiologic.”

And it’s contaminated with Salmonella.

Return the contaminated products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Or, contact the company with questions and to obtain information on how to return the product at 1-800-217-7668.

And then there’s this.

The Mayo Clinic reports that in a study of 83 patients there was no difference in overall survival between patients receiving standard care plus a shark cartilage product versus standard care plus placebo.

Likewise, there was no suggestion of improvement in quality of life for patients receiving the shark cartilage, compared with those receiving placebo.

The notion that it has some value because sharks don’t get cancer is — at best — unsubstantiated.

5/20/07 22:06 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

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