Study accuses FDA of silence on dangerous supplements

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new study by a Harvard University researcher shows that several potentially dangerous diet supplements remain on the market, and in Vitamin Shoppes.

Many public health experts say the FDA is not doing enough to protect consumers.

The accusations were made today in the New York Times.

The supplements contain a chemical called BMPEA, which is nearly identical to amphetamine, which can increase the risk for serious heart problems.

Supplements containing this ingredient have been pulled from store shelves in Canada.

But here in the U-S, the Times reports that even though the F-D-A has found the chemical in at least nine supplements, it never gave specific names of those products.

Nor did it issue any alerts or warnings.

Harvard says the products are Jet Fuel T-3000, Jet Fuel Superburn, Black Widow, Lipodrene Hardcore, Lipodrene Xtreme, Yellow Scorpion, MX-LST, DexaPrime XR, ARO Burn, and Fastin XR.

They say the lack of action is a symbol of a bigger problem, that the FDA can't police the billion-dollar supplement industry.

Click here for more information on those products.