Vitamin manufacturers learn of possible presence of mad cow disease

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Vitamin manufacturers learn of possible presence of mad cow disease Updated 12:00 PM ET March 27, 2001

By Lauren Grimm Badger Herald U. Wisconsin

(U-WIRE) MADISON, Wis. -- Dietary supplement firms in the United States are taking steps to raise consumer confidence concerning the mad cow disease scare in Europe.

Though no proven link has been found between mad cow disease and vitamins, scientists are concerned that ingredients in certain vitamins may pose a threat to the health of consumers. Providers of dietary supplements, a $16 billion-per-year industry, are taking notice and following scientists' advice.

Various vitamins and other products contain brain or other tissues from cattle glands; these tissues could contain the proteins thought to be responsible for mad cow disease and its human version.

Scientists think cow brain and spinal cord tissues carry the highest risk of passing the deadly disease.

An industry trade association reported that only 200 of the over 25,000 dietary supplements sold in the United States contain the glandular materials that have scientists so worried.

Though mad cow disease, known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, has not been found in the United States, the form of the illness which affects humans has killed almost 90 people in Europe so far.

U.S. law currently forbids the import of any bovine ingredients from European countries, including Britain, France and Ireland, where mad cow disease has been detected.

Recently, Christine Lewis, a director of the Food and Drug Association's dietary supplements office, said the FDA inspects about 60 supplement makers each year to check ingredient origins.

"I think that what the dietary supplement people are doing is prudent," said food science professor and food safety extension specialist Steve Ingham. "I think what all this is going to mean is that firms will be restricting where they are going to get their materials. Should the public be up in arms about it? No."

Despite the precautions taken by the FDA and supplement firms, University of Wisconsin food science professor Barbara Ingham remains skeptical.

"I think the overall risk of getting mad cow disease from dietary supplements is small," she said. "Something that plays into that is [supplements] are largely unregulated. In an ideal world, we would have safeguards in place to deal with any risk, but because they are so unregulated, it is harder to ensure that the risk is minimal."

Barbara Ingham said the vitamin industry is not highly regulated.

"This is an industry that doesn't have much government oversight, unlike a pharmaceutical product, which has a lot of regulation," she said. "There is a concern with consumers because labeling is also so loosely regulated."

Though products containing bovine ingredients are not currently a threat in the United States, some students are still beginning to question their safety.

"People shouldn't be so passive in assuming that things sold in stores or served at restaurants are necessarily good for you," UW sophomore Lindsey Nelsen said. "It's always good to be conscious of what goes into things that may affect people's health."

Barbara Ingham's immediate concern lies more in dietary supplement regulation.

"If I would look at this on the spectrum, I wouldn't be very concerned about contracting mad cow from vitamins," she said. "A greater concern would be the regulation of supplements in general."

http://search.excite.com/r/sr=news|ss=anesthesia;http://news.excite.com:80/news/uw/010328/health-310

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 30, 2001

Answers

Something to think about when I swallow those vitamins every day.

Various vitamins and other products contain brain or other tissues from cattle glands; these tissues could contain the proteins thought to be responsible for mad cow disease and its human version.

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 30, 2001.


I do not take a vitamins. All your vitamins
can be obtained from whole foods.


-- spider (spider0@usa.net), March 30, 2001.

My doctor and pharmacist years ago told me that if you eat fresh fruits, veggies, etc., you don't need to take vitamins. It's a billion dollar industry--go figure.

-- CAkidd (CAkidd_94520@yahoo.com), March 30, 2001.

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