Die Nahrungsmittelmafia > Die Produktions-Mafia

Crackdown on dietary supplements: DOJ Press conference

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FRAUENPOWER:
http://www.justice.gov/live-stream

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DOJ LIVE STREAM

Streaming at 3:30pm EST: Department of Justice Press Conference

BEN: GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM BEN MIZER. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO EXPLAIN CRITICAL STEPS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TAKING TO STEM THE TIDE OF UNLAWFUL DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS BEING SOLD TO CONSUMERS NATIONWIDE. ALMOST EVERY DAY, NEWS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET, TELEVISION, AND IN PRINT OF FEATURE STORIES ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. A SUPPLEMENT IS LACED WITH AN UNDECLARED PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENT. A STUDY IS RELEASED ABOUT ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS OF A SO-CALLED NATURAL REMEDY. AN ATHLETE OR MEMBER OF THE MILITARY FALLS ILL AFTER TAKING AN UNTESTED ENERGY PRODUCT. THESE STORIES ARISE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ALL TOO OFTEN. CONSUMERS TURN TO SUPPLEMENTS WHEN THEY WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT, GET AN EDGE IN ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE, OR IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL WELL-BEING. FROM CALIFORNIA TO MAINE, CONSUMERS AND JUST PILLS, POWDERS, NOT KNOWING IF THEY -- IN GEST PILLS, POWDERS, AND LIQUIDS EVERY DAY. NOT KNOWING IF THEY DO WHAT THEY CLAIM TO DO. IN SOME CASES, CONSUMERS MAY BE CHOOSING SUPPLEMENTS OVER OTHER PROVEN THERAPIES UNDER THE MISTAKEN BELIEVE THAT THESE PRODUCTS CAN HELP. I AM HONORED TO BE JOINED AT THE PODIUM BY MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, THE FDA, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE , AND THE ANTI-DOPING AGENCY. TODAY, WE ARE ANNOUNCING A SWEEP OF ACTIONS TARGETING UNLAWFUL DIETARY SUPPLEMENT MAKERS AND MARKETERS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE PURSUED CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES AGAINST THE MAKERS OF THESE PRODUCTS. ANNOUNCED TODAY IS THE INDICTMENT OF USP LABS, RELATED TO WIDELY POPULAR WORKOUT AND WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS. THE BEST-SELLING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS LIKE JACKED, ASK THE ELITE PRO AND AXIALLY PRO-NEW FORMULA AND -- OX Y ELITE PRO AND OXY ELITE PRO NEW FORMULA GENERATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SALES. A SEARCH FOCUSED ON CHINESE CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS. WHEN THEY FOUND AN INGREDIENT THEY BELIEVED WAS PROMISING, KNOWING FULL WELL HOW THE MARKET FOR DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS WORKED, THEY DOCTORED PACKAGING, LABELING, AND OTHER PAPERWORK TO DEFRAUD OTHERS ABOUT WHAT THE PRODUCT WAS. MUCH OF THE ALLEGED FRAUD FOCUSED ON THE DEFENDANT'S CLAIMS THAT THEIR PRODUCTS WERE MADE FROM NATURAL PLANT EXTRACTS. THE TRUTH, AS ONE DEFENDANT PUT IT, LOL , STUFF IS COMPLETELY, 100% SYNTHETIC. SYNTHETICS ENTERED THE UNITED STATES, GOT ON STORE SHELVES, AND WERE PURCHASED BY CONSUMERS. THE DEFENDANT PACIFIED -- FALSIFIED PAPERWORK TO STAY OFF THE RADAR OF REGULATORY AGENCIES. THEY MADE MISREPRESENTATIONS TO CONVINCE WELL-KNOWN RETAILERS, WHO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT UNTESTED SYNTHETIC MATERIALS, TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS. THEY FALSIFIED LABELING AND MARKETING MATERIALS TO CONVINCE CONSUMERS, WHO PRIZED NATURAL INGREDIENTS, TO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, REGULATORS, RETAILERS, AND CONSUMERS, TRUSTED DEFENDANTS WERE TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE DECEIVED. THE DECEPTION PUT LIVES AT RISK. THE LACK OF SAFETY TESTING THE DEFENDANTS UNDERTOOK, FOR INSTANCE, THE INDICTMENT ALLEGES THAT DEFENDANTS SOMETIMES TESTED THE PRODUCTS ON THEMSELVES AND SOLD THE ONES THAT MADE THEM FEEL GOOD . WITH ONE PRODUCT, DEFENDANTS ALLEGEDLY RECOGNIZED THAT THE SUBSTANCE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE LIVER TOXICITY. BUT WITHOUT CAUSING -- CONDUCTING A SINGLE TEST, THEY WENT AHEAD AND SOLD IT , WORKING FROM THE BASELESS ASSUMPTION THAT THEY WERE NOT USING ENOUGH OF THE TOXIC SUBSTANCE TO CAUSE PROBLEMS. THERE WERE PROBLEMS. THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK OF LIVER INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OXY PRO NEW FORMULA. SEVERAL PEOPLE EXPERIENCED JAUNDICE. SOME NEEDED TRANSPLANTS TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. THE DEFENDANTS PROMISED THE FDA AND THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WOULD STOP DISTRIBUTING THE PRODUCT AT ISSUE, BUT THEY DID NOT. INSTEAD, THEY UNDERTOOK A SURREPTITIOUS ALL HANDS ON DECK TO DISTRIBUTE AS MUCH OF THE PRODUCT AS THEY COULD. WE ARE HERE IN PART TO HOLD USP LABS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS ACTIONS. THE INDICTMENT REVEALED TODAY CHARGES USP LABS IN TEXAS, FOUR OF ITS INFECTED IS -- OF ITS EXECUTIVES AND ONE OF ITS CONSULTANTS WITH A CONSPIRACY CRIME TO SELL -- CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY TO SELL TOXIC SUBSTANCES. AS NOTED, THIS IS JUST ONE STEP. WHATEVER THE OUTCOME, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND SPECIAL AGENTS FROM THE FDA AND IRS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO BRING US TO THIS POINT WILL ENSURE THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED. THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST USP LABS AT ITS OPERATORS SHOULD SERVE AS A WAKE-UP CALL TO THE SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY. THE UNMISTAKABLE MESSAGE IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ITS FEDERAL PARTNERS WILL BE VIGILANT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. FIGHTING A LEGAL ACTIVITY IN THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY IS A HIGH PRIORITY OF OUR CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENDA. THE CASE ANNOUNCED TODAY IS ONE OF ONLY MANY CASES BROUGHT AS PART OF THIS SWEEP THAT WE ARE UNVEILING. MANY ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS CAUSE HIGH LEVELS OF CONCERN AMONG HEALTH OFFICIALS NATIONWIDE. MANY OF THE CASES WE HAVE BROUGHT RELATE TO PRODUCTS THAT MISREPRESENT THE INGREDIENTS THEY CONTAIN. WE HAVE ALSO BROUGHT CASES AGAINST PRODUCTS THAT MAKE UNSUPPORTED CLAIMS ABOUT THEIR EFFECTS. IN NUMEROUS CASES, PRODUCTS ARE TOUTING CURATIVE PROPERTIES FOR DISEASES RANGING FROM CANCER TO HER PES. MAKING THESE CLAIMS DEFINES THE PRODUCTS AS DRUGS UNDER THE LAW. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE WARNED BY THE FDA AND IN SOME CASES IN JOINT LETTERS BY THE FTC TO STOP MAKING THESE CLAIMS, THEY CONTINUED TO MAKE THE CLAIMS AND PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCTS AS TREATMENTS OR CURES FOR DISEASES, BUT THE DRUGS LACKED SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE FOR SAFETY OR EFFECTIVENESS. THEY ARE ALSO BEING SOLD WITHOUT ADEQUATE DIRECTIONS FOR THEIR USE. THEREFORE, SELLING THEM IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE IN THESE INSTANCES IS ILLEGAL. THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING A MULTIFACETED APPROACH. IN ADDITION TO CRIMINAL ACTION, WE ARE USING CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS TO SAFEGUARD CONSUMERS FROM HARMFUL PRODUCTS. AS PART OF THIS SWEEP TODAY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BROUGHT A DOZEN CIVIL ACTIONS, INCLUDING FIVE LAST WEEK. IN SOME CASES, USING THE CIVIL MAIL FRAUD INJUNCTION STATUTE, SEEKING TO STOP DEFENDANT ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUALS FROM VIOLATING THE LAW. WE ARE ASKING DEFENDANTS TO STOP THEIR ILLEGAL CONDUCT AND TO PUT IN PLACE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES TO PREVENT THEM FROM VIOLATING THE LAW IN THE FUTURE. OUR PARTNER AGENCIES ARE TAKING OTHER MEASURES TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. AS I MENTIONED, I STAND HERE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER AGENCIES WITH WHOM WE HAVE JOINED FORCES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THROUGH ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION, EACH AGENCY IS WORKING TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AND ATHLETES FROM HARMFUL EFFECTS OF THESE PRODUCTS. TOGETHER, THROUGH COOPERATION AND TEAMWORK, WE CAN MULTIPLY THE IMPACT OF OUR EFFORTS. THESE EFFORTS WON'T PUT AN END TO THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL GO SOME DISTANCE TO BRINGING CHANGE TO THE INDUSTRY. WE ARE NOT HERE TO CRITICIZE THE ENTIRE SUPPLEMENT MARKETPLACE. EVERY -- NOT EVERY SUPPLEMENT CONTAINS AN UNDISCLOSED INGREDIENT. NOT EVERY LABEL LIES ABOUT WITH HIM THE BOTTLE. NOT EVERY CLAIM ABOUT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS IS UNSUPPORTED -- LIES ABOUT WHAT IS IN THE BOTTLE. NOT EVERY CLAIM ABOUT A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT IS UNSUPPORTED. IT IS CHALLENGING TO SORT THROUGH REAL SCIENTIFIC SUBSTANTIATION COMPARED TO UNSUBSTANTIATED HYPE. HOW CAN CONSUMERS DO THEIR OWN DUE DILIGENCE? TALK TO YOUR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER. CHECK WHETHER THE PRODUCT YOU'RE GOING TO CONSUME COULD CAUSE YOU HARM OR WHETHER THE MONEY YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND ON IT IS WORTH IT. THE FDA'S WEBSITE INCLUDES TIPS FOR MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS AND EVALUATING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. THE FTC WEBSITE ALSO CONTAINS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION. THERE IS A CELL PHONE APP TO HELP CONSUMERS MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT SUPPLEMENTS. THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE BUILT, OUR EFFORTS IN THIS AREA WILL CONTINUE. WE WILL USE ALL TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO ADVANCE OUR GOALS AND TO PROTECT CONSUMERS. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE PODIUM OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, FROM THE FDA.

HOWARD: THANK YOU. DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING AREAS FDA REGULATES. BIDDING COMPRESSES A VAST ARRAY OF PRODUCTS AND HAS A COMPLICATED SUPPLY CHAIN -- THIS ARENA COMPROMISES A VAST ARRAY OF PRODUCTS AND HAS A COMPLICATED SUPPLY CHAIN. PRODUCTS WITH HIDDEN PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES. WE ALSO FIND PRODUCTS MAKING FALSE CLAIMS THAT ARE IN VIOLATION OF OUR LAWS. SOME INCLUDE PRODUCTS THAT CLAIM TO TREAT SERIOUS DISEASES SUCH AS CANCER OR ALZHEIMER'S. WE FIND THAT A COMPANY USING ONE NAME AND ONE SUPPLY CHAIN CAN CHANGE COURSE THE NEXT DAY, SWITCH ITS NAME, AND WE ARE BACK TO SQUARE ONE. BUT WE TAKE VIGOROUS ACTION. RECENTLY, THE FDA TOOK ACTION TO STOP THE SALE OF PEW OR POWDER COCAINE WHICH HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF -- P URE POWDER COCAINE, WHICH IS ARTIE RESULTED IN TWO DEATHS. -- HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN TWO DEATHS. IN ADDITION, THE AGENCY WORKS WITH FIRMS FOR VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE. WE LEVERAGE RESOURCES ACROSS THE AGENCY. STILL, WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE EFFORTS TO MAXIMIZE IMPACT, FOCUSING FIRST ON SAFETY CONCERNS. WE ARE WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT PARTNERS SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL AND OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN SEEING BAD ACTORS HELD ACCOUNTABLE. CONSUMERS SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF SCAMS. HEALTH FRAUD SCAMS LEAD TO DELAYS IN GETTING PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, AND WASTE MONEY. THEY CAN ALSO CAUSE SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL INJURIES. TODAY'S JOINT AGENCY EFFORT IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING CONSUMERS FROM POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. THE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST USP LABS SHOULD SERVE AS NOTICE TO INDUSTRY THAT IF YOUR PRODUCTS ARE FOUND TO BE SEVERELY HARMING HEALTH, THE FDA WILL EXERCISE ITS FULL AUTHORITY UNDER THE LAW TO BRING YOU TO JUSTICE AND TO PROTECT CONSUMERS. WITH THAT, I WILL INTRODUCE ACCURATE -- ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE.

GARY: MY NAME IS GARY BARKSDALE. I'M THE ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. ON FRIDAY, AS PART OF THE NATIONWIDE SWEEP ON DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, POSTAL INSPECTORS DISTRIBUTED SEARCH WARRANT'S. TODAY, ADDITIONAL SEARCH WARRANT WARRANTS WERE SERVED IN MASSACHUSETTS AND CALIFORNIA. AT ALL THREE LOCATIONS, POSTAL INSPECTORS SEIZED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT MAIL FRAUD AND FOOD AND DRUG FRAUD CHARGES. DESPITE LEGITIMATE MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS, SCAMMERS CONTINUE TO PEDDLE WORTHLESS PILLS, OILS, AND OINTMENTS, PROMISING MIRACLES AND DEFRAUDING THE PUBLIC. IT IS THE MISSION OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE TO DEFEND AGAINST THOSE USING THE SYSTEM TO BREAK THE LAW. HEALTH CAN SUFFER IF NONE OF THE ADVERTISE CLAIMS WORK OR THEY CAN EVEN POSE HEALTH RISKS. THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE HELPS TO HALT SCAMMERS FROM SELLING THEIR WARES TO UNSUSPECTING CITIZENS. WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE HOPE TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN CONSUMER BY KEEPING THESE SCAMS AT BAY THROUGH A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH OF PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND PROSECUTION. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO RALEIGH DYLAN.

RILEY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE FTC'S BUREAU OF CONSUMER PROTECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PROBABLY -- OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. WE ARE PLEASED TO PARTICIPATE AS PART OF THE FTC'S ONGOING CONSUMER PROTECTION MISSION TO COMBAT DECEPTIVE AND UNFAIR MARKETING PRACTICES IN CONNECTION WITH DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. AS PART OF THAT, WE ARE ANNOUNCING THREE NEW ACTIONS, ONE COMPLAINT, AND TWO SETTLEMENTS, 20 WARNING LETTERS TO GO ALONG WITH 11 OTHER CASES THE FTC HAS ANNOUNCED IN THE LAST YEAR. ACCORDING TO THE NUTRITION BUSINESS JOURNAL, AMERICANS SPENT NEARLY $40 BILLION A YEAR ON DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. MANY DELIVER WHAT THEY HAVE PROMISED, BUT SOME ARE NOTHING MORE THAN 21ST CENTURY SNAKE OIL. HIS REP IN THE COMPANIES -- DISREPUTABLE COMPANIES ARE ALWAYS ON THE PROWL TO CAPITALIZE ON NEW HEALTH SCARES. SUPPLEMENTS MARKETING TO AN AGING DEMOGRAPHIC TO STOP MEMORY DECLINE OR GRAYING HAIR. WEIGHT LOSS PILLS TARGETING THE GROWING PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BATTLING OBESITY. AN HERBAL REMEDY SEEKING TO PROFIT OFF AN EPIDEMIC OF OPIATE DRUG ADDICTION. TODAY, WE FILED A CLAIM AGAINST SUNRISE FOR ITS MARKETING OF A CONCOCTION OF VITAMINS, MINERALS, AND HERBS PURPORTED TO ALLEVIATE THE TERRIBLE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SYMPTOMS OF OPIATE WITHDRAWAL. SUNRISE SAID THE PRODUCT ALLOWED ADDICTS TO GET AND STAY CLEAN ON THE FIRST TRY, BUT AS ALLEGED IN THE FTC COMPLAINT, THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SCIENCE TO BACK UP THAT CLAIM. STILL, THEY CHARGED $75 A BOTTLE FOR THE PRODUCT. THEY TARGETED CONSUMERS TRYING TO GET CLEAN, USING MOVING TEXT AMMONIUM -- TESTIMONIALS FROM ATTICS. WE ARE ALSO SEEKING MONETARY RELIEF FROM A NUMBER OF COMPANIES INVOLVED IN WEIGHT LOSS SCAMS. WE SETTLED WITH SEVERAL DEFENDANTS INVOLVED IN A CLASSIC WEIGHT LOSS SCAM PROMISING RAPID, DRAMATIC WEIGHT LOSS WITH BOGUS X WORDS AND FAKE SCIENTIFIC -- EXPERTS AND FAKE SCIENTIFIC SCAMS. MANY INDIVIDUALS CAPITALIZED ON THE GREEN COFFEE BEING FAT, FIRST TOUTED ON THE -- GREEN COFFEE BEAN SAD -- FAD, FIRST TOUTED ON THE DR. OFFICE SHOW. MARKETERS MUST COMPLY -- DR. OZ SHOW. THE FTC WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ACTIVE PRESENCE IN THE SUPPLEMENT MARKETPLACE . WE WILL PRIORITIZE CASES THAT AFFECT CONSUMER HEALTH OR SAFETY AND PRAY ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. HOWEVER, LAW ENFORCEMENT ALONE CANNOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WADE THROUGH AN AWFUL LOT OF MISLEADING ADVERTISEMENTS. REVERSE THE SIGNS OF AGING. CAUSE WEIGHT LOSS. MIRACLE CURES, SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS. TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ABOUT ANYTHING YOU ARE CONSIDERING AND PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE MATERIALS REFERENCED EARLIER. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR. DAVID SMITH, THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, READINESS, AND POLICY OVERSIGHT AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

DAVID: GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THE MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM. THE MILITARY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN 9.5 MILLION BENEFICIARIES' HEALTHCARE AROUND THE WORLD. THE DOD AND THE MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM IS IN FULL COOPERATION AND SUPPORT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN THEIR INITIATIVE TO CURB THE USE OF UNSAFE DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. IN AN SHARING THE READINESS OF THE FORCE -- AND ENSURING THE READINESS OF THE FORCE IS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS TOP GOALS. SUPPLEMENTS ARE A TOP THREAT. WHY DO I SAY THAT? MORE THAN 70% OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS TAKE SOME TYPE OF SUPPLEMENT. WE ALSO KNOW THAT 20% OF THOSE TAKE PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING , BODYBUILDING, OR WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS. SOME DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS INCLUDING SOME PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING AND BODYBUILDING SUPPLEMENTS MAY BE UNSAFE ACCORDING TO THE FDA. OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO KEEP OUR SERVICE MEN FIT TO SERVE. IN DECEMBER OF 2011 , DR. JONATHAN WOODSON, MY BOSS AND THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR CONSUMER HEALTH AFFAIRS ASKED TO HAVE A DOD WIDE INITIATIVE CREATED TO PROMOTE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT AWARENESS WHICH RESULTED IN OPERATION SUPPLEMENT SAFETY. THE CONSORTIUM OF HEALTH AND MILITARY PERFORMANCE AND OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL LEADS THIS. THE OPERATION SUPPLEMENT SAFETY WEBSITE IS OUR GO TO RESOURCE IN THE DOD FOR INFORMATION ABOUT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. SINCE 2012, THE OPS S TEAM HAS DEVELOPED MANY PRODUCTS TO EDUCATE OUR SERVICE MEMBERS, LEADERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, PROVIDERS, AND RETIREES ON HOW TO CHOOSE SUPPLEMENTS WISELY. THE DOD CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE FOR HEALTH AND MILITARY PERFORMANCE AND THE U.S. ANTI-DOPING AGENCY HAVE ALSO PARTNERED SINCE THAT TIME TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR OPERATION SUPPLEMENT SAFETY. WE RELEASED THE HIGH RISK SUPPLEMENT LIST IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. TODAY , THIS PARTNERSHIP, ALONG WITH FUNDING FROM THE U.S. ARMY COMPREHENSIVE SOLDIER AND FAMILY FITNESS PROGRAM, AND TWO ADDITIONAL -- HAVE PRODUCED TWO ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING RELEASED TODAY. WHY AN, AN ONLINE INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL MODULE CALLED GET THE SCOOP ON SUPPLEMENTS, AND A MOBILE APPLICATION THAT ALLOWS MOBILE DOWNLOADING OF A HIGH RISK SUPPLEMENT LIST. THESE NEW PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ACCESS THAT. THE DOD IS PROUD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS SWEEP ALONGSIDE OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES HERE TODAY AND TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF UNLAWFUL AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT PRODUCTS BEING MARKETED TO OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND TO OUR CITIZENS. WE APPLAUD THE TEAM FOR TAKING ON THIS CLEAR PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE FOR THE NATION. THANK YOU. AND NOW , IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE DR. AMY EXNER, THE SPECIAL ADVISOR ON DRUG AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THE U.S. ANTI-DOPING AGENCY.

AMY: MY NAME IS DR. AMY EICHNER. I AM FROM THE U.S. ANTI-DOPING AGENCY AND I AM THE SPECIAL ADVISOR ON DRUGS AND SUPPLEMENTS. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF CLEAN ATHLETES TO FULLY SUPPORT THE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY. ELITE ATHLETES, ALL ATHLETES, INCLUDING RECREATIONAL LEVEL, YOUTH ATHLETES, MASTERS ATHLETES, EVEN THE KIDS ON PLAYING FIELDS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE VERY HEAVILY TARGETED BY DIETARY SUPPLEMENT COMPANIES WANTING TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY SPORT AND PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING PRODUCTS. THE ACTIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY ARE A REAL WIN FOR CLEANOUT FLEETS. WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCIES -- FOUR CLEAN ATHLETES. WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES AND WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO DIRECTLY EDUCATE U.S. ATHLETES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE DANGERS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE SAFE SUPPLEMENTS. WE OFFER THIS EDUCATION ON OUR SUPPLEMENT 411 WEBSITE, WHERE WE ALSO HAVE A HIGH RISK LIST. THE HIGH RISK LIST IS A RISK -- A LIST OF PRODUCTS KNOWN TO CONTAIN SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED IN SPORT. FOR THOSE OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY PROHIBITED LIST, YOU WILL REALIZE THAT NOTHING ON THAT LIST HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH NUTRITION. THOSE SUBSTANCES SHOULD NOT BE IN DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING THE SUPPLEMENT 411 HIGH RISK LIST APPLICATION, SIMILAR TO OPS S. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THAT TO VISIT THE APPLE STORE. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANDROID IN TWO WEEKS TIME. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO IGNORE KNOWLEDGE AND OUR VERY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIFORM SERVICES UNIVERSE -- I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR VERY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIFORM SERVICES UNIVERSITY. WORKING WITH THEM HAS STRENGTHENED ALL OF OUR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. AGAIN, WE FULLY SUPPORT THE AGENCIES HERE AND THE ACTIONS THEY HAVE TAKEN TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> QUESTIONS?
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