Massive Recall of Homeopathic Kids' Products Spotlights Dubious Health Claims (arstechnica.com)

Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement that the homeopathic drug company King Bio is recalling 32 of its children's pain-relievers. According to the FDA, a "small percentage" of those products tested positive for bacterial contamination during regular, random testing by King Bio. From a report: The announcement does not provide any specifics about the contamination or potential risks. However, the North Carolina-based manufacturer behind the recall, King Bio, issued a similar announcement back in July. At that time, the company recalled three other products after an FDA inspection found batches contaminated with the bacteria Pseudomonas brenneri, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Burkholderia multivorans. Pseudomonas brenneri is a bacterium recently found in natural mineral waters, and its clinical significance is murky. However, Pseudomonas fluorescens is known to be an opportunistic pathogen, causing blood infections, and Burkholderia multivorans can cause infections in people with compromised immune systems and cystic fibrosis. It was also recently found to be a rare but emerging cause of meningitis. King Bio did not respond to Ars' request for comment on the contamination, its potential source, or the company's actions to prevent further contamination.

Homeopathic products, as Ars readers are likely familiar, are those based on a pseudoscientific belief that substances generating similar symptoms to an ailment can cure that ailment, aka the "law of similars." The potentially dangerous substances are generally safe to consume because homeopaths believe that "vigorous shaking" and excessive dilution -- often to the point where no atoms of the original substance remain -- make them more effective. As King Bio puts it, this preparation "potentizes" the substances. King Bio told the FDA that the items of concern were a group of various over-the-counter remedies produced between August 1, 2017 and April 2018.

Comments

Overdose

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

One time I forgot to take my homeopathic medicine and I overdosed.

Re:Overdose

[PolygamousRanchKid]

One time I forgot to take my homeopathic medicine and I overdosed.

. . . and here I wacky-parsed the headline as:

"Massive Recall of Homeopathic Kids' Parents."

. . . getting rid of the cause of the doses . . . over or under.

Re:Overdose

[UnknownSoldier]

One time I remembered to take my placebo and I got better.

"pseudoscience"?

[barrywalker]

Can we please cut the bullshit and call it what it is - "non-science". It's not "pseudo" anything. It's complete horseshit backed by no science. Stop giving these dumb motherfuckers credibility.

Re:"pseudoscience"?

[imidan]

Maybe you should look up what pseudoscience is?

Okay, here is the definition:

pseudoscience: a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method

There is nothing about homeopathy that can be construed as having anything at all to do with the scientific method. Homeopathy is pure fantasy. There's a difference between pseudoscience and magic.

If a crazy man in the park makes "potions" in discarded Coke bottles using his own bodily fluids as alchemical reagents and throws them on passersby to cure them of demonic posession, we wouldn't call that "pseudoscience." It's just batfuck madness. And, from the sound of this article, may be just about as sanitary as these homeopathic remedies.

Re:It's funnier than that

[shess]

That said, most homeopaths aren't idiots, they're desperate. Especially in America. We don't guarantee healthcare. Lots of people can't afford it. So they turn to something to give them hope.

But it's mostly desperate people without healthcare looking for hope. Most human being can't live without hope, so they'll take it where ever they can find it. They're easy prey.

This implies that it's because they can't afford "proper" healthcare. I've spent my adult life working with people who's employers provide excellent insurance as a perk, and I can tell you that it's not a problem with affordability. People don't want to go to a doctor and hear that there isn't a pill to solve their problem, real or imagined. They want solutions, and if the medical profession doesn't have the solution they want, they'll find an alternative.

Re:The one exception

[Powercntrl]

I will make one exception - arnica montana That is actually because it isn't really homeopathic.

For whatever reason, homeopathic medicine has incorrectly become partially synonymous with herbal medicine and natural home remedies. It's an incorrect usage of the term "homeopathic", as some herbs and home remedies have demonstrable effectiveness (mint tea for a sore throat, ice pack for a bruise - those actually work!). True homeopathic medicine, however, is 100% placebo.

Re:Opportunity Knocks

[ClickOnThis]

You may have been scooped, sort of.