Are Detox Products Shams Or Do They Really Do What Their Promoters Say?

Featured Article
Main Category: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Also Included In: Public Health;  Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 27 Mar 2006 - 16:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The Medical Health Care Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is going to carry out an investigation on the medical claims made by sellers of 'detox products'. This is after a BBC Programme broadcast investigations by real doctors.

The programme revealed that some sellers of detox products claim people can flush out toxins, stimulate circulation and improve their immune systems.

According to British law, if you make a medical claim about a product, you have to back it up with proof - medical tests, trials and rigorous testing. According to the BBC programme, the products have never been subjected to rigorous testing.

In the UK, according to the Medicines Advertising Regulation Act, 1994, an advertisement about a medicinal product (that makes a medical claim) cannot be published without a licence. To get the licence, you need to prove that the medical claim is true - you need to show it in clinical trials.

Detox products producers who advertise with medical claims will be approached by the MHRA, said a spokesman. They will either have to withdraw those claims from their advertising, or show their proof.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations