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Public Health Service |
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Office of Compliance |
Department of Health and Human Services
October 12, 2006
WARNING LETTER
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
David Goldberg
2005 S 91st St
Omaha, NE 68124-2019
Dear Mr Goldberg:
This is to advise you that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed your website at the Internet address www informulab.com and has determined that the products Beta Fast GXR Glucose Balance and Beta Fast GXR Glucose Tolerance are promoted for conditions that cause these products to be drugs under section 201(g)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 USC 321(g)(1)]. The therapeutic claims on your website establish that these products are drugs because they are intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. The marketing of these products with these claims violates the Act.
Examples of some of the claims observed on your website include:
- "Clinical trials conducted in the USA involving Beta Fast have shown substantial reductions in blood glucose and HbA1c levels."
- "Typically, individuals with diabetes experience reduced glucose averages of 10 to 15% within 45 to 60 days of initiating GS. After 180 days, users have shown declines in the 30 to 40% range. Studies show that in approximately 20% of Type 2 cases, oral hypoglycemic use can be substantially reduced or replaced with consistent administration of GS."
Examples of claims made in the form of testimonials:
- "I just wanted to inform you about the positive results that I've experienced by taking the BETA-FAST Gymnema Sylvestre. … The glycemic No. (HbAlc) dropped from 7.3 to 6.4, in those 3 months."
- "Without BetaFast I was in the 145-155 range. My first two tests after BetaFast were 116 and 109."
- "My HbA1c test went up to 8 plus and since I started with Beta Fast the last reading was 6.1."
- "I have been taking BetaFast GXR Glucose Balance for a few years now. Since I've been on this supplement my hemoglobin ALC has dropped from 7.8 to 6.5. I have lost 20 lbs., and my doctor has had to take me off of my Humulin-R insulin. This is the first time since I became a Type I diabetic at the age of 8 years old. I am now 45 yrs."
Furthermore, your products are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above referenced conditions, and, therefore, the products are also "new drugs" under section 201(p) of the Act [21 USC 321(p)]. New drugs may not be legally marketed in the US without prior approval from FDA as described in section 505(a) of the Act [21 USC 355(a)]. FDA approves a new drug on the basis of scientific data submitted by a drug sponsor to demonstrate that the drug is safe and effective.
These products are also misbranded within the meaning of Section 502(f)(1) of the Act, in that the labeling for these drugs fails to bear adequate directions for use [21 USC 352(f)(1)]
The above violations are not meant to be an all-inclusive list of deficiencies in your products and their labeling. While reviewing your website, noticed that you promoted other products for disease treatment and/or prevention. It is your responsibility to ensure that products marketed by your firm comply with the Act and its implementing regulations. We urge you to review your website, product labels, and other labeling and promotional materials for your products to ensure that the claims you make for your products do not cause them to violate the Act.
Failure to promptly correct the violations specified above may result in enforcement action without further notice. Enforcement action may include seizure of violative products and/or injunction against the manufacturers and distributors of violative products.
Please advise this office in writing, within 15 working days of receipt of this letter, as to the specific steps you have taken or will be taking to correct these violations, including the steps taken to assure that similar violations do not recur. Include any documentation necessary to show that correction has been achieved. If you cannot complete all corrections before you respond, we expect that you will explain the reason for your delay and state when you will correct any remaining deviations.
Your reply should be sent to the attention of Kristen Moe, Compliance Officer, US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Division of Compliance and Enforcement (HFS-607), 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy, College Park, MD 20740-3835. If you prefer to respond electronically, send your e-mail to kristen.moe@fda.hhs.gov If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact Ms Moe at 301-436-2064.
Sincerely,
/s/
Joseph R. Baca
Office Director
This page was posted on February 12, 2008.