The FDA wants to make cherries and walnuts into illegal drugs.

[SunKat]

I originally came across this information as posted by Sandy L. on Care2... Too interesting not to share.

By CathyBurt

The FDA has sent a warning letter to the president and CEO of Diamond Foods stating that the firm's packages of shelled walnuts are "in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act". Why? Because Diamond Foods dared to list some of the health benefits of walnuts on its website. Health benefits which have been scientifically researched and proven. The FDA says that the walnuts are being "promoted for conditions that cause them to be drugs because these products are intended for use in the prevention, mitigation and treatment of disease".

In other words, if you say that a food is healthy and may help protect against heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis, your words have magically changed that food into a drug. And, guess what, that's illegal. Now you've created an illegal drug and that's a crime.

Common sense alone should tell you that walnuts, cherries, pomegranates and green tea are foods, not drugs.

Even though potato chips are mostly a deep fried snack food, with no scientifically proven health benefits, the FDA has no problem with FritoLay listing on its website some of what they claim are the health benefits of potato chips. We all know that carbohydrates fried in fat and covered with salt are just not healthy to eat.

This certainly seems like a FDA double standard and it is just not acceptable for a government agency to disregard its own mission of educating the public and promoting health.

The Free Speech about Science Act (HR 4913) is a bipartisan bill introduced into the House of Representatives on March 23, 2010. This legislation protects basic free speech rights, ends censorship of science and enables the natural foods and health products community to share peer-reviewed scientific findings with the public. The bill has the potential to educate the public about the real science behind natural health. This would enable the public to have access to credible information that they can use to make wise dietary choices.

What can you do? You can contact your members of Congress and let them know that you are opposed to the FDA's censorship of the scientific evidence that supports the health claims of food. (Food like walnuts, cherries, pomegranates, and green tea.) and that you encourage them to support the Free Speech about Science Act. Contact the FDA and tell them to stop censoring the science about natural, whole and healthy foods.