Currently, seven out of every ten Americans use nutritional supplements to support their health. Unfortunately, new legislation in the U.S. House of representatives (H.R.3156) threatens consumers’ access to these supplements, even though they are already regulated by the Food and Drug Administration under Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. The proposed bill would subject at least 70 percent of the supplements now available to Americans to stricter government oversight and would seriously threaten consumer access to this useful form of nutritional support. The unprecedented requirements of H.R. 3156 will undoubtedly translate into higher prices for these useful supplements unless consumers take action. Contact your Congressional representatives to let them know how you feel about this important issue. The National Nutritional Foods Association has sample letters that consumers can use or modify before e-mailing their Congressmen: Visit www.nnfa.org to make your voice heard. Consumer action has had an enormous impact on another area of natural health organic foods and beverages. Thanks to consumers who’re looking food produced without persistent, toxic chemicals, organic acreage in the U.S. has more than doubled since 1993. In the world of dwindling resources, organic agriculture procedures as much food per acre as conventional farming, while conserving soil quality, water, and biological resources with 30 percent less fossil fuel.
