|
American Botanical Council Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal1 along with ABC Advisory member Dr. Richard Kingston2 wrote letters to the editor disputing the claims made in an article written for the New York Times “Diet Supplements and Safety” by Dan Hurley.3 The letters argue that Hurley misinterpreted statistics from a report by the American Association of Poison Control Centers by considering “exposures” to substances to be the same as adverse reactions. The New York Times chose not to publish either of the submitted letters. However, a correction was published on February 6 quoting Dr. Susan Smolinske, a spokeswoman for the association, and clarifying the reported numbers.4
References
1. Blumental, Mark. Re: Hurley D. Diet Supplements and Safety: Some Disquieting Data. NY Times, Jan16, 2007 [letter]. Jan. 16, 2007. http://www.herbalgram.org/default.asp?c=MBlte1-16-07.
2. Kingston, Richard. Re: Diet Supplements and Safety: Some Disquieting Data by Dan Hurley 1/16/07 [letter]. Jan. 16, 2007. http://www.herbalgram.org/default.asp?c=RKlte1-16-07.
3. Hurley, Dan. Diet Supplements and Safety: Some Disquieting Data. New York Times. Jan. 16, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/health/16diet.html?ex=1171429200&en=9fa185e763e716c2&ei=5070.
4. Revisiting a Poison Control Database on Supplement Risks. New York Times. Feb. 6, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/06/science/06dietcxn.html.
|