Food Inspection Agency investigating sports nutrition, says Globe

TORONTO (CP) The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has launched an
investigation into sports nutrition products such as energy bars, power
drinks and weight-loss preparations, the Globe and Mail reports.

The probe comes after an internal CFIA report which raised questions
about
the safety of many of these diet supplements.

``The presence in many of these products of non-permitted substances
with
pharmacological activity, excessive levels of vitamins and minerals and
undeclared common food allergens put the health of Canadians at risk,''
said the report, which was marked secret and produced last year.

``It addition, the substitution in these products of desirable and
expensive ingredients with inexpensive ingredients is a common type of
fraud that results in economic loss for consumers. Claims for health and
performance benefits which cannot be substantiated are another form of
fraud common among these products.''

Despite continuing inspection by federal officials, ``the overall
marketplace compliance for sports nutrition products continues to be
very
poor,'' added the report, obtained by Ottawa researcher Ken Rubin.

The report didn't name any brand names. The Food Inspection Agency is
looking at the industry as a whole.

Alain Charette, a CFIA spokesman, said officials launched a national
review earlier this year.

``It's a targeted operation on the sports nutrition issue. Since it's an
enforcement operation, we cannot be very specific about what we are
doing.
We definitely have some sampling being done and tests being performed,''
he said.
(Globe and Mail)

Kyle Hume
News & Entertainment
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