Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: Jimbee on 13/06/2024 13:56:46
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Should health companies have rules that address safety in their labeling of health products? I know where I live, the FDA just says the product has to be safe and that the bottle has to contain what it says on the label. No food adulteration. In other words, except dyes, artificial flavor, etc. and things that are simply added to the product anyways.
To make myself clear, I'll give you an example of what I am talking about. You have to be careful when you buy certain health products, especially that you might use in sensitive areas, like your eyes. In 1986 I was interested in the herb Eyebright. Eyebright has been used at least since the 1300s as an eye rinse and to help with eye strain and diseases of the eye. In 1986 I got it in powder form in cellulose capsules.
One day, I was about to open a capsule and use it as an eye rinse, when I read the ingredients. It had cayenne pepper in it. I don't think I would have wanted to have used it as an eye wash.
But whose fault would that be if I used that product that way and it gave me something like conjunctivitis? I thought about that at the time. Because I don't think I was the first person to think of using that product that way. Should products that are usually used that way, in the eyes, have a warning on them? Should they be allowed to put things, even like cayenne pepper (which is safe taken internally), in them? And what are the regulations like where you live?
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"But whose fault would that be if I used that product that way and it gave me something like conjunctivitis?"
Theirs because...
"FDA just says the product has to be safe "
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Was it sold as a medical product? Bought from a pharmacist or a "health" food shop? Seems unlikely to package an eye wash as a powder in a cellulose capsule.
If you flavor your coffee with stuff you buy from a rodent exterminator, don't expect the law to side with you on a negligence claim.