You must enable cookies for this web site to function properly.

Tell the FDA that Cherries--And Now Walnuts-- Are Not Illegal Drugs!

The FDA recently sent a letter to Diamond Foods, Inc., a processor and distributor of packaged nuts, threatening this respected firm with legal action and possible seizure or injunction of their walnuts. Why? As Bill Faloon, Life Extension Foundation co-founder, explains in a powerful new investigative article, Diamond Foods stated on its website that walnuts promote and maintain a healthy heart among other health benefits.

The FDA wrote that the walnuts sold by Diamond Foods cannot be legally marketed because walnuts “are not generally recognized as safe and effective” for the medical conditions referenced on Diamond Foods’ website.

According to the FDA, these walnuts are now classified as “drugs,” and the “unauthorized health claims” cause them to become subject to government “seizure or injunction.”

Last time we checked, the FDA’s mission was to educate the public and protect the public health—not to harass and censor American companies that provide high quality, nutritious, and healthful natural products! As a matter of fact, there are dozens of studies that show sharply reduced incidences of heart disease for those who consume walnuts. As Bill Faloon points out, the National Library of Medicine database contains no fewer than thirty-five peer-reviewed published papers supporting a claim that ingesting walnuts improves vascular health and may reduce heart attack risk among other health benefits.

Nor is this the first time that the FDA has attacked the marketers of healthy foods just because they dared to cite peer reviewed scientific research! The Agency previously enjoined the cherry growers, and has also attacked green tea producers and other health food producers for the very same reason: “unauthorized health claims,” even though they had hard science behind their statements!

Selective Enforcement

Why does the FDA target cherry growers, walnut distributors, and green tea producers with threatening letters, when they allow Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of the Pepsi-Cola company, to advertise their potato chips as “heart healthy”? Do you see their chips being called “illegal drugs”? Does the FDA actually think that deep fried potatoes laden with salt are healthier than cherries and walnuts?

What is really going on here? Could it have something to do with the fact that these calorie-laden snacks are sold by a giant food and soft drink company with $43 billion per year in sales—and lots of clout on Capitol Hill—while producers of natural healthy products are often small and relatively defenseless firms?

Please do not let the FDA silence good science and common sense! Please contact the FDA today and tell them to stop censoring science and harassing producers of natural food products.

Click here to read more about the FDA's attack on walnuts.

Recipients

  • Your Senators
  • Your Representative
  • Stephen Ostroff

Contact

*Required fields
 
 

Message

Please tell the FDA to stop threatening producers of cherries, walnuts, green tea, and other healthy foods.

Dear [Decision Maker],

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]