U.S. seizes diet supplements with Ephedra

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - U.S. marshals seized $150,000 of dietary supplements that contained the stimulant ephedra from distributors in Texas and Oregon, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday.

Authorities seized 2,634 bottles of Nature's Treat Energy Plus 1 from Nature's Treat, Inc., in Gainesville, Texas, and 363 more from ACD Distributing in Eugene, Oregon, the agency said in a statement.

Last year, the FDA banned dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids, which come from the herb ephedra, as unsafe.

A federal judge in Utah ruled against at least some aspects of the ban in April, but the FDA is interpreting the ruling as only allowing the company involved in that case to continue selling ephedra products at lower doses than Nature's Treat products, an agency spokeswoman said. The FDA is also appealing the ruling.

Research has shown that the amphetamine-like herb can speed heart rate and constrict blood vessels even in seemingly healthy people, but it is particularly risky for those with heart disease or high blood pressure or who engage in strenuous exercise.

The deaths linked to the substance include that of Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler, who collapsed and died during spring training two years ago.

I wish I saved the link to this article about a guy who was doing one of those 'keep your hand on the car to win it' contests.
He'd been slamming Red Bull's all night long. Come morning, he got a little disoriented, walked off, and came back with a gun and opened fire, before killing himself I believe.
I google'd but I can't find it.