Some ephedra products back on market despite FDA ban

By Hubert Vigilla

Published on January 09, 2006

Ephedra was banned by the FDA due to studies that linked the diet supplement to some 155 deaths, most of which were related to strokes or heart problems.

Some products containing ephedra were back on the market following the ruling of a federal District Court judge in Utah in April of last year. The judge ruled in favor of Nutraceutical International Corp., a Utah-based supplement company that uses ephedra in some of its products. Despite the court ruling, several dietary supplement trade associations have urged members to avoid manufacturing and distributing products containing ephedra.

Recently, U.S. marshals in Oregon and Texas seized approximately 3,000 bottles of Nature's Treat Energy Plus, a dietary supplement containing ephedra. This was done at the behest of the FDA.

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