Naturez.org

The French Ministry of Health has banned the sale of all foods and supplements containing St. John’s wort. Officials are concerned that the herb will interact with prescription drugs in harmful ways. Speculation about these types of interactions has been given much play in the press lately. Natural Foods Merchandiser, August 2000. Share and Enjoy:

Health Canada has refused to approve olestra as an ingredient in food, citing concern over the product’s interference with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Nutraceuticals International, July 2000. Share and Enjoy:

The European Patent Office revoked a six-year old patent covering the use of neem tree oil as a fungicide, upon learning that the oil had been used for the same purpose in India years before the patent was filed. The patent was held by the USDA and W.R. Grace, an international agriculture company. Members of [...]

The national consumer survey revealed that more than two-thirds of Canadians believe that herbal supplements can be as effective as prescription and OTC drugs in preventing and treating health problems. More than half the population say they would be “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to take an herbal supplement to treat a cold, and one [...]

In response to growing public demand for herbs and dietary supplements, the Canadian government announced that it will set aside $10 million to establish a natural products organization within Health Canada. The office will fund research on supplements, speed the approval process for new products, and consider reintroducing controversial supplements such as melatonin and DHEA. [...]

The US dietary supplement industry can expect a larger piece of the Japanese pie, following an announcement that the Japanese government will work toward a reclassification of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements as foods instead of drugs. Currently, US firms hold only a 7 percent market share in Japan, or about $438 million [...]