Category Archives: Advertising

New WHO Guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia

Posted on May 16, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

https://www.who.int/mental_health/neurology/dementia/guidelines_risk_reduction/en/ Relevant to concerns about FSANZ Standard 2.6.5 which has allowed products such as Souvanaid® and Ceretain® to be self-assessed and promoted for the dietary management of Alzheimer’s dementia or related mild cognitive impairment. On supplements, WHO says: Vitamins B … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Choosing wisely, Complementary medicine, Natural Therapies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A medical food for depression?

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Neurofolin® (containing 15 mg of L-methylfolate calcium) is a self-declared food for special medical purposes promoted for dietary support of depression management. Advertisments claim that L-methylfolate is, “an active form of folate known to be deficient in individuals with depressive … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Complementary medicine, Food, Medicine policy | Tagged | Leave a comment

MJA Insight: Two new articles on Food-Medicine regulation

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Where food meets medicine: reform needed Junk food advertising to kids: the list of shame See also: FSANZ Sports Supplements Roundtable: Report on Discussions and Next Steps by

Posted in Advertising, Choosing wisely, Complementary medicine, Food | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

TGA fails to act on illegal sports supplements

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

ABC story at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-30/canberra-fitness-community-not-fazed-by-sarms-health-risk/10930470 But, this problem was publicised last year and a complaint sent to the TGA And there are more complaints to the TGA that have not been dealt with: These are illegally supplied and promoted products by … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Choosing wisely, Complementary medicine, Food, Pharmaceutical Promotion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

SBS The Feed, Session 2019, Episode 7, Cure or Quack

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

A controversial government review that’s about to change what’s available for private health fund rebate. The program featured Naturopath Barbara O’Neil and her Misty Mountain Health Retreat, “where some people come with quite serious illness, like Lisa”. Lisa has gone … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Choosing wisely, Natural Therapies, Private Health Insurance | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Food-medicine interface problems

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

FSANZ, Consumer and Public Health Dialogue, 27 March 2019, Canberra. I’ve now provided a report of my presentation and the discussion that ensured. Summary The regulation of health claims for foods and complementary medicines is inconsistent; complaint systems are problematic, … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Complementary medicine, Food, Medical Devices, Medicine policy, Pharmaceutical Promotion | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lectures in Canberra; ANU & FSANZ

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

In Canberra from 25th-27th March 2019 staying at University House, a guest of the ANU. Two lectures to ANU BHSc students: Antibiotic Resistance: A Threat to Global Health Health Activism: A Case Study of Health Action International Asia Pacific One … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Choosing wisely, Complementary medicine, Education, HAIAP, Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical Promotion | Tagged , | Leave a comment

SBS Insight – Vitamins: Sorting science from scam

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

The vitamins and dietary supplements industry has doubled over the last 10 years – we’re now spending an estimated $4.9bn each year on complementary medicines. But while some medical professionals say they work, others say the scientific evidence isn’t there, … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Complementary medicine, Natural Therapies, Pharmaceutical Promotion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

60 Minutes: Health supplements could contain heavy metals, arsenic and even snow leopard

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Media: Doctors lift lid on weird animal product in Australian supplements Blackmores slams 60 Minutes TGA targeted by 60 Minutes by

Posted in Advertising, Complementary medicine, Natural Therapies, Pharmaceutical Promotion | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Forthcoming SBS Insight program on Vitamins and Supplements

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

I spent 3 hours with a very pro-supplement audience, being filmed by SBS last night (6/02/2019) . I was surprised by the number of ‘true believers’. I give talks on complementary medicines to U3A classes but I have never found … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Complementary medicine, Education, Medicine policy | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment