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Jon Benninger

Jon Benninger is the vice president of business development for the Health & Nutrition Network at VIRGO. He works on new products, international efforts, industry outreach and advocacy, content development, partnerships and collaborations, and strategic planning. Jon volunteers for many industry associations, committees and initiatives, is a frequent speaker and moderator at industry events, and assists VIRGO clients with solutions and strategies.. He joined VIRGO in 1995 and has served as editor, publisher, and group publisher prior to his current position. He earned a degree in journalism at Arizona State University.

Supplement makes HIV H1N1 and Cancer claim

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File this one under "why some people think the supplement industry is unregulated". I had to click on the link that someone posted in a Linked In group (not our SupplySide group) that promoted a nutritional product to treat HIV, H1N1, cancer and other diseases. And the website did not disappoint. Sure enough, the breakthrough product was good for all of these ailments and available for only $28! And in case I had any doubts about the product, the company was kind enough to provide video testimonials of cancer survival. Clearly, these are egregious violations of the law. It is this kind of behavior that critics of the supplements use to defend their accusations that the industry is unregulated and full of snake oil. I sent an email with this company's website to the FDA and the FTC earlier today, noting the claims for HIV, H1N1 and cancer. If this company is allowed to continue selling this product without objection by the regulatory agencies, then in fact the industry is unregulated. Not because the regulations do not exist, but because the regulators do not enforce them. I will keep an eye on this one and report back from time to time. Let's see if we really are regulated.
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