Watch Out for Fake Radiation Preventatives Warns FDA
Due to public concern related to the nuclear incident in Japan, the FDA is warning consumers to be wary of drugs falsely touting radiation exposure treatment.
Potassium iodide (KI) has been approved by the FDA to prevent thyroid cancer in people internally contaminated with radioactive iodine, however the U.S. government is not recommending that residents take KI, even as a preventative. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission indicates that no part of the U.S. is expected to experience any harmful levels of radioactivity.
The FDA is warning consumers to be wary of internet sites and retail outlets promoting products that make claims to prevent or treat radiation, these claims may be false and the products may not be FDA approved.
Potassium Iodide
Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
Due to public concern related to the nuclear incident in Japan, the FDA is warning consumers to be wary of drugs falsely touting radiation exposure treatment.
Potassium iodide (KI) has been approved by the FDA to prevent thyroid cancer in people internally contaminated with radioactive iodine, however the U.S. government is not recommending that residents take KI, even as a preventative. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission indicates that no part of the U.S. is expected to experience any harmful levels of radioactivity.
The FDA is warning consumers to be wary of internet sites and retail outlets promoting products that make claims to prevent or treat radiation, these claims may be false and the products may not be FDA approved.
Says the FDA, “These fraudulent products come in all varieties and could include dietary supplements, food items, or products purporting to be drugs, devices or vaccines.”
There are three FDA-approved potassium iodide products that protect against radiation: Iosat, made by Anbex; ThyroSafe from Recipharm AB; and ThyroShield from Fleming & Co. All three products are currently out of stock reports CNN Money. The FDA says it’s currently working with manufacturers to increase production, but reminds Americans that there is no need to take KI at present.