Nexus - 0224 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Raid: Ye Seekers — June 1992 Address: 1221 Blalock, Houston TX 77055 Phone: (713) 461 0857 — Matt Malick, Vitamin Supervisor Reason: In February 1992, Texas health authorities, acting under the direction of the FDA, seized 50 products from several health food stores in Texas including Ye Seekers. Then, in June, they seized more than 250 products including aloe vera, zinc, flax seed oil, herb teas, vitamin C and coenzyme Q-10. Outcome: Although more than 410 products were seized, the stores haven't filed suit for fear of reprisals. Ye Seekers noted that Ginsana was seized from them at the same time it was being advertised on the Larry King TV show. Raid: Tierra Marketing — 8 April 1993 Address: 8200 Montgomery NE #235, Albuquerque, NM 87109 Phone: (404) 524 2233 — Rodger Sless Reason: Sless was raided at gunpoint, and had US$20,000 worth of Gerovital-H3 (GH-3) seized along with, business records and computer. Employees suffered from post-traumatic stress syn- drome after having guns pointed at them. The FDA considers GH- 3 an “unapproved drug". Outcome: On 17 June 1994 a New Mexico jury acquitted Sless. The FDA could produce no documents indicating they had fol- lowed legal administrative procedures to enable them to seize GH- 3. The Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) handed out leaflets to everyone entering the courthouse (including jurors) to inform them that they could vote their consciences about whether or not Sless was guilty. Raid: Mihai Popescu — 2 June 1992 Address: Out of business. Owner in Metro Detention Center in Los Angeles Phone: (213) 933 6825 — Popescu's wife; leave message Reason: The FDA claims that Gerovital (GH-3), which Popescu was selling, is an “unapproved drug”. Eight FDA and Customs agents raided Popescu's house with guns drawn, holding his eight- months-pregnant wife and 83-year-old grandfather at gunpoint for 10 hours. Outcome: They seized his computer and business records and US$5,000 worth of GH-3. Popescu has been in prison for eight months and expects to be released in three months. Raid: Kirwin Whitnah — 12 May 1993 Address: Driven out of business. Formerly in Middletown,-CA Phone: (707) 928 1915 Reason: Whitnah was promoting the sale of deprenyl. The FDA considered this "selling an unapproved drug". His house was raid- ed at gunpoint when he wasn't home, terrorising a woman staying at the house. They found no deprenyl. They seized his computer, business records, mailing list, literature and US$4,500 in money orders. saan ranean wena weeny PO eee tte rete cere nnnee ween Raid: Nature's Way — 30 June 1992 Outcome: No charges were filed, but Whitnah was driven out of wht. Springs Piwy, The FDA seized business. Phone: 1 800 962 8873 US$15,000 worth of Hsaio [EStHmAyson cute 6 acc ee Reason: The FDA seized a quantity of evening . . 14 May 1993 primrose oil, both encapsulated and in bulk, from Yao Tea Pills in an attempt Address: 1424 Lake Air this large manufacturer during a routine inspection, to strike back at Drive, Waco TX 76710 They also seized a truckload of primrose oil on the . Phone: (817) 772 5743 road. The FDA claimed it was an "unapproved acupuncturists who are — Tom Wiggins food additive". i I Reason: The FDA was Outcome: Nature's Way filed a lawsuit to get their taking 2 lot of business looking for deprenyl citrate, a product back, but was forced to remove the vitamin away from conventional [Rats supplement. They E from it because the FDA said that "vitamin E has doctors entered the store with a search not been approved as a food additive for evening ° warrant wearing plain clothes. primrose oil”. They searched for four hours and Raid: Family Acupuncture Clinic — 14 August 1992 seemed most interested in possible links to business in the Seattle aaa AA ~ AneAN area Raid: Family Acupuncture Clinic — 14 August 1992 Address: 117 Granada, San Clemente CA 92672 Phone: (714) 361 3976 — Richard Lee, Ph.D., Director Reason: FDA seized US$15,000 worth of Hsaio Yao Tea Pills in an attempt to strike back at acupuncturists who are taking a lot of business away from conventional doctors. The FDA ignored Californian law, under which acupuncturists are licensed to prac- tise medicine. FDA also ignored the fact that many insurance companies honour claims for acupuncture, including Aetna, Prudential and Blue Cross. Outcome: The seized herbs were shipped back to China by the FDA after they'd rotted. Dr Lee is still in business. area. Outcome: As soon as Mr Wiggins, the owner, told the FDA his attorney was a well-known defender and prior district attorney in the Waco area, they apologised for the raid and left with some documents. No charges were filed and the store hasn't been raided since. Raid: Raid: International Nutrition Inc. — 24 June 1993 and 3 August 1993 Address: PO Box 1644, Santa Theresa NM 88008 Phone: 1 800 535 6442 —G. S. Odin Reason: Alleged "misbranding" of “illegal drugs” led five FDA agents, a federal marshal and a PR specialist to enter with video cameras (instead of guns) in an effort to prevent a public backlash. FDA seized US$1,000,000 worth of vitamin raw materials and products formulated by Dr Hans Nieper of Germany. Also seized were computers and business records. Outcome: INI has lost 80 per cent of its business since the raid and had to lay off 80 per cent of its workforce. No court date has been set. Raid: Natural Vision International (NVI) Address: Driven out of business; formerly in Manitowoc, WI Phone: Talked to an administrator at Holiday House at (414) 682 4663 Reason: Opticians and opthalmologists pressured FDA into an armed raid of NVI with two federal marshals to seize 17,000 pairs of pinhole glasses which exercise and strengthen the eyes. The charge was that NVI had failed to file a pre-market application with FDA. NVI notes that a pinhole is not a lens. Outcome: Despite the fact that NVI submitted hundreds of testi- monials from satisfied customers, the FDA drove them out of business by not returning their stock of over US$200,000 worth of pinhole glasses. Raid: Hospital Santa Monica — 12 May 1993 Address: 738 Design Ct, Chula Vista CA 91909 Phone: (619) 662 3010 — Kurt Donsbach Reason: Hospital Santa Monica is an alternative cancer hospital in Mexico that competes with mainstream hospitals in the US. NEXUS * 19 FEBRUARY - MARCH 1995