The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) sent a letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times to correct inaccuracies in the July 6, 2013, Op/Ed, "Alluring but risky medicine."

The article was authored by Dr. Paul Offit, who continues to promote his new book, Do You Believe in Magic?: The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine. The article includes several inaccurate statements including the assertion that "because of the 1994 Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act, dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration."

"This is absolutely false," AHPA President Michael McGuffin writes in the letter to the editor. "Supplement companies must comply with many federal laws and regulations, including (but not limited to) registering facilities with the FDA, complying with federal current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) for dietary supplements, complying with FDA labeling requirements and submitting to FDA any serious adverse events reported to the company in regards to any of their dietary supplement products." 

AHPA will continue to monitor media coverage of Offit and his book and respond to inaccuracies as appropriate.