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Show Many Quacks Still Victimize American Public With Frauds While the organized ethical food and drug industry is thus in large measure self policing because be-cause of high standards that have proved profitable as well as protective, pro-tective, the American public is still victimized and endangered by many crooks and quacks who prey upon the gullible and those needing medical attention who think they cannot afford a doctor. doc-tor. The American Medical Association As-sociation estimates that the mineral, min-eral, vitamin, food supplement and other rackets (not to be confused con-fused with the legitimate, professional profes-sional distribution of accredited products costs the Americans more than $500,000,000 a year, and causes untold suffering and death on the part of . those who dist: see a doctor. The law and the research and professional opinion behind it and the official and private educational facilities facili-ties which interpret it, is your best protection. It works for you all the time. Among others, the law protected you against: 1. The promoter of Vit-ra-tox. He made false claims in labeling one product containing alfalfa, ground bones and cereal juices; for another containing lecithin, garlic and wheat germ and another an-other of volcanic ash and water. The promoter was fined and then jailed. 2. A company which sold for $20, house to house, a monthly treatment of vitamins and min- follow the advice of unprincipled unprinci-pled quacks and fakers when they need urgent medical or surgical sur-gical aid. How can the people find protection, when the advertising adver-tising of racketeers, the pseudo scientists is so convincing? Here are a few tips: 1. Don't rely on what the vendor ven-dor or the advertising says read the label. What it says about a product sold interstate is controlled by federal law. 2. Buy foods and drugs from reputable outlets. Be particularly particular-ly careful in dealing with mail erals with a "secret" base of alfalfa, watercress and parsley, claimed to be "effective against ulcers, . arthritis, strokes, high blood pressure, varicose veins, migraine headaches, asthma, diabetes, dia-betes, prastate trouble, rheumatism, rheuma-tism, Buerger's disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, nervousness, malaria and heart trouble." The defendants were convicted. The legal guardians of your health catch up with one illicit product today and are on the trail of others tomorrow. "Eternal Vigilance is the Drice or door to door distributors; Read and question mail advertising adver-tising which doesn't come from reliable firms of your community. commu-nity. 3. When in doubt, ask your doctor, your local public health officer or nurse, a professional nutritionist or an agricultural extension home economist; or write the director of your state Department of Health. 4. If you think you need special spe-cial diet or supplements, don't take the word of Aunt Emily, the current best seller, or a fad- of Freedom" and it is also the price to good health. Thanks to your departments of health and associated research and regulatory regula-tory agencies, we don't have to worry very much about the ingredients in-gredients which go into modern commercial foods the main thing is to get a balanced diet which provides all the nutrients and vitamins most people need. Let the health vigilantes worry about the flavors, preservatives, and additives which, under legal controls, helps make our food the safest and best ever. |