MAHARASHTRAS Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has filed a chargesheet against Complan, a health drink by Heinz Indian

Pvt Ltd, over its advertising claim that it can help children grow twice as fast One group was put on a full diet, the second one got a full diet plus Complan prepared in water and the third got a full diet plus Complan prepared in milk. The study showed that children in the third group grew twice as faster than those in the first one. Complan-fed childrens overall health also improved, the Heinz-funded study claimed. The academy had asked its senior doctors to review the study. H P S Sachdev, former professor at the department of paediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi, found several caveats in it. First, no comparison can be drawn because the study did not include a group of children who were given only milk and routine diet, Sachdev said. Scientifically, the increase in height because of Complan cannot be proved, Sachdev added. He pointed out all trials have to be registered with Clinical Trial Registry-India (CTRI), but that was not done in Complans case. Since Heinz funded the study, its results cannot be trusted, he added. The study covered children in the age group of seven-12 years of certain economic segment, but its results have been wrongly extrapolated for children across India. The phrase, twice faster, also carries no scientific meaning. The studys design, randomisation and analyses show it is h ighly prone to bias, Sachdev added. He presented his analysis to the academy, which, in turn, showed them to FDA. The watchdog then filed a chargesheet against the company officials for violating provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 and Rules.

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/1638

But a senior professor of a reputed medical college has questioned like, What is the rationale for doing this trial in 7-12year-old children when the burden of malnutrition is the greatest in under-five children? Obviously, the results cannot be extrapolated for children of all ages."

http://toostep.com/debate/complan-s-ads-are-being-challenged-now-for-their-tall-claims http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-07-09/news/27622703_1_complan-maharashtrafda-chargesheet