X-Message-Number: 29867 From: "Basie" <> Subject: FDA issued warning Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:43:16 -0400 The drug companies copied this natural product and patented it. Now it has become illegal to eat the natural product. The FDA makes one cry (with anger). >FDA warns against red yeast rice products WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers Thursday to avoid three red yeast rice products sold as treatments for high cholesterol. The FDA said testing revealed the products contain lovastatin, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Mevacor, a prescription drug approved for marketing in the United States as a treatment for high cholesterol. "This risk is even more serious because consumers may not know the side effects associated with lovastatin and the fact that it can adversely interact with other medications," said Dr. Steven Galson, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The FDA issued warning letters advising the companies that promoting and selling the products violates the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.< Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=29867