FDA Seizes Taurine Supplements for Autism Claims

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore.---At the request of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. marshals seized hundreds of bottles of Kirkman's HypoAllergenic Taurine Capsules from Humphrey Laboratories after FDA determined the products made unsubstantiated health claims that made the products unapproved new drugs.

Humphrey Laboratories, which does business as Kirkman Laboratories, sells dietary supplements online and through mail order and promotes itself as "the only manufacturing company designing products specifically for autistic individuals." It offers more than 100 products for autism, including DMG, Cod Liver Oil and a multivitamin called Super Nu-Thera. The seized products were 325 mg taurine capsules; among the claims on the Web site (www.kirkmanlabs.com) were "Taurine may be beneficial in developmental disorder" and recommended dosages for individuals with autism.

According to FDA, the products violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which holds that dietary supplements may not make claims that a product will cure, mitigate, treat or prevent disease. "FDA will continue to pursue products that violate the law," said Lester M. Crawford, FDA deputy commissioner. "This seizure emphasizes our commitment to protect the public health by keeping the marketplace free from products that make medical claims not substantiated by scientific evidence."

When contacted by INSIDER, the spokesman at Kirkman Laboratories said the company was still formulating a statement about the seizure.