mannatech etc.

[Guest guest]

I have watched the postings about Mannatech and have not commented at

all - I don't have feelings about it one way or the other, but some of

the new zealand press releases might want to cause some of us concern;

A couple of links are:

http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,3762-2204069,00.html

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2321231a7144,00.html

Just for your reference

Pat

Father of Cameron (2 yo) and Claire (4months) both wcf.

Direct selling group urges sugar pill makers to act ethically

11 March 2003

The body representing direct selling companies has urged the makers of a

sugar pill to reign in distributors making " misleading " claims about its

benefits.

Ambrotose, developed by Texas-based Mannatech, is allegedly being sold

by some sellers as a therapy for HIV, cystic fibrosis, cancer,

arthritis, down's syndrome and a host of other illnesses.

The Health Ministry has warned the New Zealand distributors they could

be in breach of the Medicines Act if they used false therapeutic claims.

Yesterday the Direct Selling Association (DSA) said it asked Mannatech

to terminate the positions of wayward distributors if necessary.

" It is unacceptable and a clear breach of New Zealand law to make such

claims, " DSA executive director Garth Wyllie said.

While Mannatech was not a member of the New Zealand organisation, it was

bound by membership of similar groups in Australia and the United States

to act ethically, no matter which market they were in, he said.

" This includes actions of distributors or associates . "

Mannatech " has shown an intention to comply with both the law and the

DSA code of practice internationally and I would expect no less in New

Zealand " , Mr Wyllie said.

Ambrotose, which costs about $300 a month and is sold through a

pyramid-type scheme, has been rubbished by the New Zealand Aids

Foundation and other health groups.

It is made from eight sugars, aloe vera and vegetable extrac ts.

Health Ministry Medsafe compliance team leader Pratt was to meet a

company representative yesterday.

He said the company had strict rules about what could be said about the

pills and he understood that if people were found to be breaching

company rules they would lose their distributorships.

" Anyone we find making the claims we will pursue for prosecution, " he

said.

Individuals who could be proven to have made false claims could be

subject to a jail sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to

$20,000, while companies could be fined $100,000.

New Zealand Aids Foundation executive director Hague said

yesterday he was " staggered " to hear there were more than 200 people

selling the pills in New Zealand.

The foundation rejected a request last year to endorse and sell the

pill, and take part in a clinical trial.

" Over the years there have been very many of these essentially `snake

oil' solutions to HIV, " Mr Hague said.

" People have come to us with cures like injecting blood with hydrogen

peroxide, and one woman periodically sends us letters claiming to be

able to cure people of HIV by giving the right electromagnetic

frequencies and beaming rays into people. "

Medical Association chairman said lives could be put at risk

if people believed the alleged claims and stopped taking prescribed

medication.

" I would hope that people would be sensible enough not to do that, but

of course if people develop the idea it would be good for a condition...

then of course I'm very concerned that people's lives will be put at

risk. "

He said people suffering serious/terminal illnesses were often not as

rational as they would normally be.

" It's not right that people who are vulnerable are open to this kind of

false, misleading claim or marketing. "

Consumers' Institute chief executive said there appeared

to be a clear breach of the Fair Trading Act where individuals could be

fined up to $30,000 for making misleading or deceptive claims about

products.

Mr said that included where the misleading information was

implied.

" Some people are so desperate that they will try anything, no matter

what the conventional medical wisdom says... these bastards just prey on

them. "

Leading nutritionist Professor Birkbeck, of Massey University, said

the ministry needed to get tougher as it was clear people were still

being fed untruths.

Professor Birkbeck said recent publicity showed it was obvious the

product was at times being verbally promoted as useful in treating

conditions like cancer, cystic fibrosis and Down's Syndrome.

" Standards are in place where one can't make certain claims on labels,

which also encompasses anything shared about the product, by flyers, and

even by word of mouth if you can pin it down. "

Professor Birkbeck described the Mannatech website as " very slick and

given over to how profitable selling these products would be " .

Commerce Commission director of fair trading Deborah Battell said

complaints were referred to Medsafe which was better qualified to act

given the therapeutic claims.

It was a waste of taxpayers' money for two Government agencies to

investigate, she said.

The commission had earlier looked at allegations of pyramid selling but

found that was not the case because a product was involved.

Mannatech has previously hit the headlines in America and Australia

where two doctors promoted the products, made false therapeutic claims,

and failed to declare they were profiting from sales.

The company dissociated itself from their activities.

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