Consumer Health Digest Archive (2019)
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Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. Its primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. The Digest currently has 10,074 subscribers. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available.
Issue #19-51, December 29, 2019
- Chiropractors warned about misleading childbirth care claims
- "Brain health" supplements panned
- "Bioresonance" blood test scrutinized
Issue #19-50, December 22, 2019
- Mercola's funding of anti-vax advocacy exposed
- Acupuncturist arrested for practicing without a license
- Contempt action filed against dietary supplement marketers
- Shortfalls hamper ending the HIV epidemic
Issue #19-49, December 15, 2019
- Injunction issued against US Stem Cell clinics
- Cellular therapy sales pitches questioned
- Basic Reset and Biogenyx products recalled
- Recommendations offered for global regulation of medicines
Issue #19-48, December 8, 2019
- Prohibited drug found in dietary supplements
- Complications attributed to intravenous colloidal silver
- More stem cell product distributors warned.
- Synovia marketers settle FTC charges
Issue #19-47, December 1, 2019
- Impact of unaffordable medical treatment estimated
- Warning issued against unregulated traditional Chinese medicine
- "Health care sharing ministry" called a sham
- Recommendations offered for dealing with anti-vaxx propaganda
- ADA updates fluoridation booklet
Issue #19-46, November 17, 2019
- Weight-loss products found to be leading mass market consumer fraud
- Unlicensed practitioner sentenced for deadly butt injections
- Dollar Tree stores warned about adulterated drugs
- Trends in U.S. use of tobacco and e-cigarettes reported
- Chemical of concern identified for vaping lung injury
Issue #19-45, November 10, 2019
- Comments requested about draft homeopathy regulatory guidance
- Classic homeopathy history book updated
- Unauthorized products list updated
- FTC challenges "diabetes cure" publisher
- Jen Gunter receives JREF award
Issue #19-44, November 3, 2019
- "Slapping healing" promoter convicted of manslaughter
- Multilevel marketer Neora sued
- Warning issued about unauthorized soft-shelled hyperbaric chambers
Issue #19-43, October 27, 2019
- 35 people charged in huge cancer-testing scheme
- Genetic testing fraud alert issued
- More companies warned about illegal CBD advertising
- Podcast features Dr. Barrett's anti-quackery activitie
Issue #19-42, October 20, 2019
- Marketers barred from making misleading Aloe vera claims
- Hormone therapy clinics investigated
- CBO and CMS predict cost savings in Pelosi's drug pricing plan
- Doubts about platelet-rich plasma injections summarized
Issue #19-41, October 13, 2019
- Unsupported prescription drug price increases spotlighted
- Banned naturopaths still advertising their services
- Genetic testing company settles physician referral kickback allegations
- Attorney sanctioned for filing "frivolous" suit against Dr. Barrett
- Lax oversight of compounding pharmacies exposed
- FDA restricts ingredients in compounded drugs
- Naturopath banned for life in New South Wales
- AdvoCare to pay $150 million to settle charges it operated illegal pyramid scheme
Issue #19-39, September29, 2019
- Herbalife settles charges of misleading investors
- Recipient of invasive "chronic Lyme disease" treatment developed severe infection
- U.S. prescription drug prices scrutinized
- Patient says chiropractic business won't let him out of contract for "stem cell" treatments
- "Fortune teller" sentenced and ordered to repay victim
Issue #19-38, September22, 2019
- Enforcement action against Prevagen reinstated
- Home therapy charges scrutinized in chiropractic business investigation
- Trust in mega-retailers lost when consumers informed about homeopathy
- Netflix series examines efforts people take to stay youthful
- Refund checks coming to Vemma distributors who lost money
Issue #19-37, September15, 2019
- Lawsuit alleges conspiracy to limit access to affordable medicines
- Problem of tainted drugs examined
- CVS brand Algal-900 DHA dietary supplement settlement reached
Issue #19-36, September 8, 2019
- Google will ban ads for unproven or experimental medical techniques
- Stemell, Inc. warned for selling unapproved umbilical cord blood/products
- AH Media online beauty products "free trial" scheme halted
- "Alternative medicine" symposium published
Issue #19-35, September 1, 2019
- Chiropractor sentenced for allergy testing scam
- Chiropractors who promoted neuropathy reversal investigated
- Former practitioners blast homeopathy
- Aromatherapy debunked
- "Nobetes" customers sent refund checks
- "Organic" food fraud mastermind kills himself
- Video promoting "Facilitated communication" criticized
- Video critique of chiropractic "adjustment" posted
- ThetaHealing®debunked
- Classic critique of 1886 homeopathic product catalog republished
- CFI leads opposition to chiropractic Medicare coverage bill
- Chiropractic company's aggressive marketing scrutinized
- HPV vaccination recommendations updated
- FDA warns consumers again about Miracle Mineral Solution
- Burns reported after vaginal steaming
- Doubts raised about clinical trial of acupuncture for angina
- "Functional neurology" chiropractor suspended
- Classic criticism of homeopathy posted
- Cannabidiol marketer warned
- False news about cannabis for cancer has grown rapidly
- Family physician journal blasted for acupuncture endorsement
- Criticism of proposed Medicare acupuncture coverage needed
- Chiropractor suspended and fined for misleading ads
- Ketogenic diet hype criticized
- Responses to health misinformation in mass media recommended
- Complaint filed to stop distribution of adulterated dietary supplements
- Children injured by cupping treatment
- Warnings issued to kratom marketers
- "Thought leader in the natural health and wellness fields" profiled
- Anti-aging" physician loses license
- Chiropractors settle over peripheral neuropathy false claims
- France will stop paying for homeopathy
- Quackwatch e-mail service temporarily halted
- Anti-vax chiropractor ordered to pay $100,000
- Cost-related insulin underuse reported
- Parental alienation treatments of children criticized
- Vaccine critic again facing disciplinary action
- "Pastoral medicine licensee" arrested
- Stem cell providers found lacking in training
- Generic drug companies sued for anti-competitive pricing.
- "Fountain of youth" promoter convicted of health care fraud
- ALCAT testing blasted
- New York eliminates religious exemptions to mandatory vaccinations
- "Alternative medicine" critic Wim Betz dead at 76
- Medical cost hardship is common in the United States
- High-deductible health insurance plans fare poorly in national survey
- Warning issued against dietary supplements containing vinpocetine
- Court rules against US Stem Cell clinics
- Naturopathy critic prevails in defamation suit
- Critical thinking conference scheduled for July
- Registration open for CSICON 2019
- "CAM" Web ads about gluten sensitivity often mislead
- Claims for wearable brain technologies criticized
- Company warned about unapproved stem cell therapies
- No significant impact found for spinal manipulation frequency on clinical outcomes
- Study of model course about chiropractic published online
- FDA toughens regulation of compounded drugs
- Companies prohibited from further drug compounding.
- FDA warns five homeopathic companies about unsterile products
- Walmart sued for misrepresenting its homeopathic products
- Quebec pharmacies provide disclaimers about homeopathic products
- Amniotic "stem cell" treatments scrutinized
- FDA blasted for failing to crack down on bogus stem cell treatments
- Class action lawsuit against Prevagen marketer proceeding
- Quackwatch praised in credit card article
- Consuming human placenta products discouraged
- Medical records of anti-vaccine physician subpoenaed
- Warning issued against "free" DNA testing for cancer
- Evidence found lacking for Rapid Prompting Method as autism spectrum aid
- Insys executives convicted of racketeering conspiracy in promoting potent opioid
- New boxed warning issued for specific insomnia medication
- Newspaper coverage of medical crowdfunding scrutinized
- "Amniotic stem cell therapy" companies settle FTC complaint
- Prolonged antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease criticized
- "Chronic Lyme disease" propaganda film criticized
- Telemarketers charged with misleading benefit and job seekers
- Marketers of phenibut and DMHA products warned
- Naturopathic views on immunization spotlighted
- Supplement sellers barred from brain-boosting claims
- Many FDA warnings issued to stem cell marketers
- NYC stem cell clinic sued for fraudulent advertising
- Position statement issued on restorative therapies for erectile dysfunction
- Warning issued against unproven medical devices to assess concussions
- Kidney failure after high-dose vitamin D reported
- WHO blasted for legitimizing non-evidence-based Chinese medicine.
- Cannabidiol promoters warned
- Homeopathy companies warned for manufacturing quality violations
- High prices of diabetes medications in U.S. scrutinized
- Chiropractic board issues policy on pediatric spinal manipulation
- GoFundMe blocks fundraising for treatment at Hallwang Clinic
- No antibody responses found for homeopathic vaccines
- Kamala Harris's decision not to investigate Herbalife criticized
- John Oliver exposes "psychic medium" trickery and harms
- CEASE therapy promoters ordered to cease claims
- Marketer warned about unapproved addiction and pain products
- Strategies used by adults to reduce prescription drug costs reported
- Amazon removes "autism cure" books
- John Oliver blasts addiction treatment industry practices
- Anti-vaccine views promoted by chiropractic regulators
- Naturopathy legitimization effort criticized
- Correction notice
- Web giants announce plans to curb anti-vaccine propaganda
- 20 states have introduced anti-vaccination bills.
- Consumer health textbook available online
- Jail time for herbalist who urged boy off insulin
- Anti-vax chiropractor surrenders license
- Guidelines released on selecting mental health therapies
- Fake paid product reviews on Amazon challenged
Issue #19-08, February 24, 2019
- Feedback sought on regulation of "unconventional" practitioners
- Chiropractor who manipulated infant banned from treating children under 12
- "iV Cocktails" promoter barred from making unsupported health claims
- Warning issued about young donor plasma infusion treatments
Issue #19-07, February 17, 2019
- Warnings issued against illegally marketing products for Alzheimer's disease
- 27 BC naturopaths facing disciplinary action for dubious ads
- Misinformation about prostate cancer found in YouTube videos
- Doctors group calls for end to France's homeopathy reimbursements
Issue #19-06, February 10, 2019
- LA Times attacks misrepresentations by stem cell marketer
- Vaccine scaremongering banned on app for mothers
- Health pseudoscience opponent profiled
- Netflix and Delta deals with Goop criticized
Issue #19-05, February 3, 2019
- Dubious social work activities noted
- Suboptimal toothpaste use and toothbrushing among children reported
- CFI objects to New Mexico naturopathy bill
- Former massage therapist tells why he left his profession in disgust
- Tarr, Inc. settles complaint over deceptively advertised health products
Issue #19-04, January 27, 2019
- Colloidal silver suits settled
- Chiropractic "maintenance care" promoter indicted
- Pseudomedicine for dementia and brain health blasted
- High prices of eyeglasses criticized
- Flu-symptom nostrum widely available in Montreal pharmacies
Issue #19-03, January 20, 2019
- Twenty years of US medical marketing reviewed
- Evidence still lacking for facilitated communication
Issue #19-02, January 13, 2019
- Excessive cancer drug pricing quantified
- "Complementary medicines" position statement issued
- Detoxing debunked
- Fluoridation benefits and safety reaffirmed
- Physicians and chiropractor ordered to stop IV vitamin/mineral infusions
- DOJ summarizes money recovered in health care fraud cases
- More reports explore crowdfunding of dubious treatments
- FDA warns about teething necklaces and bracelets
This page was revised on December 30, 2019.