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Question:
What are some of the
things I should look for when buying diabetic testing supplies online?
Answer:
The FDA has monitored Internet sales
of health products for several years and has sent warnings about
illegal practices to more than 50 companies. Even though its
resources are limited, the FDA is increasing its monitoring of
Internet sales and is working with the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) to stop illegal advertising. The FTC works with both state and
Federal consumer protection and public health agencies. It can take
legal actions against Internet advertisers of health products that
run false or misleading advertisements.
How can you be a wise consumer?
- Pay attention to labels. If the
instructions are in many languages or if measurements are in S.I.
(metric) units, the product may be intended for sale in another
country, not the U.S. This can mean the product does not meet
U.S. requirements and may be of inferior quality.
- Beware of cure-alls claims,
amazing results, and independent research that the government is
supposedly hiding. Unscrupulous merchants have found a new
audience for miracle cure-alls on the Internet. Remember, if it
seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Ask the seller, "Has the FDA
cleared or approved this product for sale in the United
States?"
- Talk to your healthcare
professional about medical devices that you plan to buy on the
Internet.
- Beware of sites that do not
include an address and telephone in the United States.
- Check the FDA's Buying Online
Homepage at http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/
for helpful information about buying medical products on the
Internet and to notify the FDA about problem Web sites. You can
also report problem Web sites by e-mail to webcomplaints@ora.fda.gov.
Please
ask Questions at our Diabetic Supplies forum
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