In February 2007, the FDA approved Alli--an over-the-counter version of the diet drug Orlistat (Xenical).
The Public Citizen's Health Research Group has voiced concerns about Orlistat’s safety and efficacy for the past 10 years, as it's been shown to cause pre-cancerous lesions of the colon.
In April of 2006, a group of doctors with Public Citizen petitioned the FDA to ban Orlistat and deny OTC status to the lower dosage version Alli, offering testimony that Orlistat raises the risk of both colon cancer and gallstones.
Public Citizen cited unpublished studies on Orlistat, showing:
In addition, the FDA itself found 37 cases of gallstones in patients of all ages, between 1999 and 2006, prior to releasing Alli for over-the-counter sale.
The safety analysis from the Public Citizen's Health Research Group is that Alli "has marginal weight loss benefits, common and bothersome G-I tract reactions, significant decrease in absorption of fat soluble vitamins, and problematic use in the millions of people using Warfarin or Cyclosporine."
The FDA denied Public Citizen's petition on the same day they approved Alli as an OTC.
Public Citizen's Health Research Group
Statement to the FDA of Dr. Wolfe February 2007
Petition to the FDA to Remove Orlistat April 2006
Testimony Before the FDA Advisory Committee January 2006
Alli and Gallstones June 2007
FDA ignores evidence that is Aspartame proven to cause cancer
FDA urged to review sweetener ’s link to cancer. Aspartame, often used in soda, hiked risk of disease in rats, new study says. I still have bookmarked a site from back in 2003 when looking for some information on Stevia that first pointed out some possible problems with Aspartame. http://www.rense.com/general37/stev.htm
http://digg.com/health/FDA_ignores_evidence_that_is_Aspartame_proven_to_cause...
i have noticed aspartame is not in near as much stuff now. you see more splenda, which is also a bad product, just not quite as bad as aspartame. but, you can bet that the aspartame people invested heavily in splenda. stevia is natural, but they supress info and manufacturing so that people have to consume chemicals instead if they want certain products. you reminded me about the pepsi and other pops with sodium benzoate. it has been in many pops for years, a lot of damage was done.
http://www.beveragedaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=78173-pepsico-coca-cola-benzene