FDA Seizes More Ephedra Products

WASHINGTON--The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney Generals Office in western Pennsylvania, continued its enforcement of the ban affecting ephedra supplements, authorizing the seizure of the dietary supplement Lipodrene from ATF Fitness Inc. in Oakmont, Pa.. Conducted by U.S. Marshals, the raid involved five unlabeled boxes containing various quantities of 100-tablet Lipodrene bottles labeled with a recommended dose of 50 mg/d ephedrine alkaloids. According to FDA, the total amount seized was valued at approximately $17,000.

Founded in 1991 by James Vercellotti, president and chief executive officer (CEO), ATF markets its Sci-Fit Nutrition and Natures Science lines via its online Web site (www.scifitauthentic.com) and various online supplement retailers.

This is not the first time the marshals have visited ATF. FDA (www.fda.gov) sent a warning letter to ATF in November 2004, detailing the companys ephedra offenses. Then, in March 2005, U.S. Marshals seized $13,000 worth of ephedra-containing products from ATF, following an FDA investigation that involved numerous discussions between the agency and ATF for a few months after the warning letter. At the time of this initial seizure, ATF stated the products seized were produced for a customer in Poland who had not yet taken delivery of them, thus the company quarantined them in their warehouse. At that time, the company faced no fines in conjunction with the raid.

An FDA spokesperson told INSIDER there also will be no fines associated with this latest raid on ATF.

At press time, neither ATF had returned INSIDERs requests for comment.