DR JOSEPH MERCOLA WARNED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO STOP ILLEGAL HEALTH CLAIMS NEWS BULLETIN:

FDA Orders Dr. Joseph Mercola to Stop Illegal Health Claims Joseph Mercola, D.O., who practices in Schaumburg, Illinois, also operates Inter net health information sites. Many of Mercola's articles make unsubstantiated claims and clash with those of l eading medical and public health organizations. For example, he opposes mammography..and makes many unsubstantiated recommendati ons for dietary supplements. The site vigorously promotes and sells dietary supplements, many of which bear h is name. Much of his support comes from chiropractors who promote his newsletter from the ir Web sites. Mercola is very critical of drug company profits and proudly states: "Mercola.com is not..a tool to get me a bigger house and car..." But investigators recently made some interesting observations. His home in South Barrington, Illinois was purchased by Mercola in 2006 for $2 m illion. The Bing Maps aerial view indicates that it is quite luxurious. [Photo shown of lush Mercola Mansion, house, luxury cars, swimming pool.]

Better Business Bureau Report: Mercola.com rated an "F" by the BBB Mecrola markets his supplements through Mercola Health Resources, LLC. On May 26 , after a customer complained that she thought a product she purchased was overp riced, I checked whether the Better Business Bureau had received any complaints. I found that the company was rated F on a scale of A+ through F. (worst) During the previous 36 months, there were 19 complaints..the report contained th e following comments: BBB: "A recent review of consumer complaints filed with the BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois against your Mercola Health Resources, LLC delineates a patter n of consumer allegations." BBB: "Consumers are alleging that Mercola Health Resources does not honor the 100% money-back guarantee listed on your website. Customers have reported that refunds have not been provided for returns that were specifically covered under

this guarantee." BBB: "Consumers have also reported that they have experienced delivery issues . While www.mercola.com states that orders ship within 10 business days, consume rs say they have waited much longer for their products. Customers allege that th e company's service staff has been unable to provide explanations regarding this delay. Some consumers have also reported that Mercola provided them with shipme nt tracking numbers that were not valid with their respective carriers [8]." http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/health-and-diet-products-retail/merc ola-health-resources-in-hoffman-estates-il-22002555

FALSE HEALTH CLAIMS BY JOSEPH MERCOLA: FEDERAL WARNING CITATIONS AGAINST DR. JOSEPH MERCOLA: In 2005, the FDA ordered Mercola and his Optimal Wellness Center to stop making multiple illegal claims for products sold through his Web site [9]. The claims t o which the FDA objected involved three products: MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - Living Fuel Rx, claimed to offer an "exception al countermeasure" against cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, etc. MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil, claime d to reduce the risk of heart disease and has beneficial effects against Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and many infectious agents MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - Chlorella, claimed to fight cancer and normali ze blood pressure.

2nd FEDERAL WARNING CITATION AGAINST DR. JOSEPH MERCOLA: In 2006, the FDA sent Mercola and his center a second warning that was based on product labels collected during an inspection at his facility and on claims made on the Optimum Wellness Center Web site [10]. This time the claims to which the FDA objected involve four products: MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - Vibrant Health Research Chlorella XP, claimed to "help to virtually eliminate your risk of developing cancer in the future." MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, claimed to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and degenerative diseases. MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - Momentum Health Products Vitamin K2, possibly useful in treating certain kinds of cancer and Alzheimer's disease. MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - Momentum Health Products Cardio Essentials Nat tokinase NSK-SD, claimed to be "a much safer and effective option than aspirin a nd other pharmaceutical agents to treating heart disease."

The warning letters explained that the use of such claims in the marketing of th ese products violates the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, which bans unappro ved claims for products that are intended for curing, mitigating, treating, or p reventing of diseases, through product labels, catalogs, brochures, tapes, Web s ites, or other circumstances surrounding the distribution of the product.

3rd FEDERAL WARNING CITATION AGAINST DR. JOSEPH MERCOLA: In 2011, the FDA ordered Mercola to stop making claims for "thermography" [contr aptions] that go beyond what the equipment he uses (Medtherm2000 infrared camera ) was cleared for. The warning letter said that statements on Mercola's site improperly imply that the Meditherm camera can be used alone to diagnose or screen for various disease s or conditions associated with the breast, they also misrepresent that the sens itivity of the Meditherm Med2000 Telethermographic camera is greater than that o f machines used in mammography. The statements to which the FDA objected included: MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - "Revolutionary and Safe Diagnostic Tool Detect s Hidden Inflammation: Thermography" MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - "The Newest Safe Cancer Screening Tool" MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - "[b]ecause measuring inflammation through ther mal imaging is a proactive, preventative method you can use for detecting diseas e, which significantly improves your chances for longevity and good health." MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - Additionally, thermograms provide: "Reliable a nd accurate information for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis" MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - "Yes, it's true. Thermograms provide you with early diagnosis and treatment assistance in such problems as cancer, inflammator y processes, neurological and vascular dysfunction, and musculoskeletal injury." MERCOLA.COM FEDERAL VIOLATION: - Thermography can benefit patients by detecting conditions including: Arthritis: "[d]ifferentiate between osteoarthritis and mo re severe forms like rheumatoid." Immune Dysfunction, Fibromyalgia and Chronic F atigue, "Digestive Disorders: Irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and Croh n's disease " and "Other Conditions: including bursitis, herniated discs, ligament o r muscle tear, lupus, nerve problems, whiplash, stroke screening, cancer and man y, many others." [11]

The Chicago Tribune has reported that Mercola has not yet complied with the FDA' s order. [12]

Additional Information on Dr. Joseph Mercola: http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2005/ucm076069.htm http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Enfor cementActivitiesbyFDA/CyberLetters/ucm059189.pdf http://www.casewatch.org/fdawarning/prod/2005/mercola.shtml http://www.casewatch.org/fdawarning/prod/2006/mercola2.shtml http://www.casewatch.org/fdawarning/prod/2011/mercola.shtml http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-04-25/health/ct-met-fda-warns-mercola-20 110425_1_warning-letter-thermography-fda-crackdown http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/health-and-diet-products-retail/merc ola-health-resources-in-hoffman-estates-il-22002555

SOURCES: 1. Mercola JM. Health website rankings: Mercola.com is now world's most visit ed natural health site. Mercola.com, accessed March 19, 2011. 2. Joseph Mercola: The physician as entrepreneur. Medical Economics, August 2 0, 2004, p 37. 3. Buttram H. Vaccine safety and benefits not scientifically proven. Optimal Wellness Center Web site, Jan 15, 2003. 4. Mercola JM. Is fluoride as safe as you are told. Optimal Wellness Center W eb site, Feb 2, 6, and 9, 2002. 5. Mercola JM. Mammograms don't save lives. Mercola.com Web site, Oct 1, 2000 . 6. Mercola JM. The experts get it wrong about mercury again! Optimal Wellness Center Web site, Dec 9, 2004. 7. Mercola JM. Why trust me? Mercola.com Web site, March 19, 2011. 8. BBB reliability report for Mercola Health Resources LLC. Better Business B ureau, May 26, 2011. 9. Walker SJ. Warning letter to Joseph Mercola, D.O., Feb 16, 2005. 10. MacIntire SJ. Warning letter to Joseph Mercola, D.O., September 21, 2006. 11. Silverman S. Warning letter to Dr. Joseph Mercola, March 22, 2011. 12. Tsouderos T. FDA warns doctor: Stop touting camera as disease sceening too l. Chicago Tribune, April 26, 2011.

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