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04-06-2011, 12:32 PM
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Free Speech in Health Science May Become a Reality—But Only With Your Help! (https://www.anh-usa.org/free-speech-in-health-science-may-become-a-reality-but-with-help/)

April 5, 2011

Today, the Free Speech about Science Act of 2011 was introduced in Congress by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO). [I]Please tell Congress how important this bill is! (https://secure3.convio.net/aahf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=698)

As we reported last week (https://www.anh-usa.org/free-speech-about-natural-health-science/), a new bill in Congress promises to revolutionize the way Americans get access to scientific research on the health benefits of foods and supplements.

The Free Speech about Science (FSAS) Act, HR 1364, would change FDA regulations so that legitimate, peer-reviewed scientific studies can be referenced without changing the food’s regulatory category to an unapproved drug. This will protect access to scientific information, and will protect your right to know about the healthy benefits of food and food supplements. The bill amends the appropriate sections of current law to allow the flow of legitimate scientific and educational information while still giving FDA and FTC the right to take action against misleading information and against false and unsubstantiated claims.

You may wish to read our FSAS White Paper (https://www.anh-usa.org/free-speech-about-science-white-paper/), which discusses how even though scientific evidence may indicate that a specific nutrient can prevent, moderate, reverse, or in therapeutic doses cure disease, the American people do not hear about this research because FDA rules prevent food producers from sharing that information.

The Free Speech About Science Act would change all that—and what’s more, the prospects of the bill actually passing this time are much greater. Though it can only happen if you put the pressure on Congress, let them know how vital the bill is, and keep after them until it goes through.

Please contact your congressional representative immediately and ask him or her to co-sponsor and support HR 1364, the Free Speech about Science Act of 2011!

[I]The “message” of the text of the pre-written [I]“YOUR MESSAGE TO CONGRESS” in the link is in below “box”:

<table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse:collapse;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes"> <td style="padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt" valign="top"> I was thrilled to read that Reps. Chaffetz and Polis had introduced the Free Speech about Science Act (HR 1364). Please lend the bill your support by signing on as a co-sponsor!

More and more Americans are taking charge of their personal health -- determined to improve their diets and emphasize preventive care in order to stay or get healthy. Consumers are looking for reliable information backed by legitimate scientific research to assist in making informed choices.

But FDA regulations currently prohibit manufacturers of dietary supplements or producers of food from referring to any scientific study documenting the potential effect of the substance on a health condition. Violation of this ban can result in FDA declaring common dietary supplements and foods to be unapproved drugs, the sale of which is subject to large fines and jail. Cherry growers have been told by the FDA that they face jail if their websites even contain links to scientific studies from Harvard and elsewhere outlining the health benefits of cherries for gout or arthritis pain. Similar warnings have been sent to walnut producers and companies that tout the benefits of green tea!

The Free Speech about Science Act provides a limited and carefully targeted change to FDA regulations so that legitimate, peer-reviewed, scientific studies may be referenced by manufacturers and producers without converting a healthy food or dietary supplement into an unapproved drug. The bill amends the appropriate sections of current law to allow the flow of legitimate scientific and educational information while still giving FDA and FTC the right to take action against misleading information and against false and unsubstantiated claims.

The Free Speech about Science Act:
1. Provides a clear definition of the types of research that may be referenced by growers and manufacturers;
2. Ensures that referencing such research does not convert a food or dietary supplement into an "unapproved [and therefore illegal] new drug"; and
3. Does not in any way limit FDA and FTC authority to pursue any fraudulent and misleading statements.

All of us, no matter our party or our views about healthcare, are coming to see the importance of preventive care, and of preventing illnesses before they start. Diet, dietary supplements, and lifestyle play a huge role in prevention. The FDA should be at the forefront of this. Instead it is blocking producers from giving consumers truthful scientific information about healthy foods.

The FDA responds that cherries and the like should be subjected to the full FDA approval process. But this would cost as much as a billion dollars! With few exceptions, it is not possible for food producers to assume such costs for natural and therefore non-patentable products.

This is the great "Catch-22" of contemporary American medicine. The FDA should find a less expensive way to "vet" natural products. Respected university research suggests that in many cases natural products are safer, more efficacious, and of course much cheaper than drugs. In the meantime, we should modify the law to at least let producers cite valid peer reviewed science.

Please help me gain the information I need to stay healthy -- co-sponsor HR 1364, the Free Speech about Science Act!

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TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

Click THIS LINK (https://secure3.convio.net/aahf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=698) to go to the Action Alert page. Once there, fill out the form with your name and address, etc., and customize your letter. We have a suggested message for you, but please feel free to add your own comments to the letter..
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