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Warning LetterDietary Supplements

Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded

View on FDA.gov

Letter Details

Company

Holistic Healer & Wellness Center, Inc.

Recipient

Stacy Sanchez

Posted Date

2021-09-09

Letter Issue Date

2021-09-07

Issuing Office

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)

Product Type

Dietary Supplements

Cited Deficiencies (2)

Misbranded drug

Unapproved new drug

Required Corrective Actions (1)

cease and desist from making any claim that a product and prevent, treat, or cure diabetes

Identified Risks (3)

Diabalance Diabetes Supplement(substance)Ginkgo biloba(substance)Bitter Melon(substance)

Challenged Claims (2)

holistic diabetes treatment

helps balance blood sugar levels for people with diabetes

Product Categories (1)

Dietary Supplements

Key Topics

Terms and concepts identified from this letter

ATTRIBUTE

1
new drug

new drug

CFR CITATION

1
21 CFR 201.5

21 CFR 201.5

CLINICAL CONCEPT

3
insulin resistance

insulin resistance

hypoglycemia

hypoglycemia

diabetes

diabetes

COMPANY

1
Holistic Healer & Wellness Center, Inc.

Holistic Healer & Wellness Center, Inc.

CORRECTIVE ACTION

1
cease and desist from making any claim that a product and prevent, treat, or cure diabetes

cease and desist from making any claim that a product and prevent, treat, or cure diabetes

FDA OFFICE

1
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)

FDA ORG

1
CFSAN

CFSAN

LOCATION FACILITY

1
https://holistichealeronline.com/

https://holistichealeronline.com/

MARKETING CLAIM

2
helps balance blood sugar levels for people with diabetes

helps balance blood sugar levels for people with diabetes

holistic diabetes treatment

holistic diabetes treatment

ORGANIZATION

1
Holistic Healer & Wellness Center, Inc.

Holistic Healer & Wellness Center, Inc.

PRODUCT CLASS

1
Dietary Supplements

Dietary Supplements

PRODUCT TYPE

1
Dietary Supplements

Dietary Supplements

RECIPIENT PERSON

1
Stacy Sanchez

Stacy Sanchez

REGULATORY ACTIVITY

1
Warning Letter

Warning Letter

STAKEHOLDER

1
Stacy Sanchez

Stacy Sanchez

SUBJECT

1
Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded

Unapproved New Drugs/Misbranded

SUBSTANCE

3
Bitter Melon

Bitter Melon

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba

Diabalance Diabetes Supplement

Diabalance Diabetes Supplement

US CODE

4
21 U.S.C. 355

21 U.S.C. 355

21 U.S.C. 331

21 U.S.C. 331

21 U.S.C. 352

21 U.S.C. 352

21 U.S.C. 321

21 U.S.C. 321

VIOLATION

2
Unapproved new drug

Unapproved new drug

Misbranded drug

Misbranded drug

Full Letter Text

WARNING LETTER

Holistic Healer & Wellness Center, Inc. MARCS-CMS 614538 —


Delivery Method:
United Parcel Service
Product:
Dietary Supplements

Recipient:
Recipient Name
Stacy Sanchez
Holistic Healer & Wellness Center, Inc.

3998 Clippert St.
P.O. Box 23017
Dearborn, MI 48123
United States

Issuing Office:
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)

United States

Federal Trade Commission

WARNING LETTER

RE: 614538

Dear Ms. Stacy Sanchez:

This is to advise you that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed your website athttps://holistichealeronline.com/ in August 2021 and has determined that you take orders there for your Diabalance Diabetes Supplement product. You are also advised that the Federal Trade Commission reviewed your website in August 2021.

The claims on your website establish that this product is a drug under section 201(g)(1)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1)(B)] because it is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. As explained further below, introducing or delivering this product for introduction into interstate commerce for such uses violates the Act. You can find the Act and FDA regulations through links on FDA’s home page at www.fda.gov.External Link Disclaimer

Examples of some of the website claims that provide evidence that your product is intended for use as a drug include:

• “Diabalance Diabetes Supplement” (Product name)
• “The key ingredients are a helpful aid to people who have diabetes and hypoglycemia.”
• “Blood sugar rises. . .It may lower elevated blood pressure. . .”
• “The Bitter Melon, Dandelion, Bilberry and Ginkgo biloba in this vegetarian capsule helps balance blood sugar levels for people with diabetes.”
• “The combination of these ingredients helps with blood sugar control. . .”
• “Works great to lower high blood sugar. . .”
• “We recommend people with type 2 diabetes or those who are experiencing insulin resistance to opt for this holistic diabetes treatment.”
• “For those with type 2 diabetes. . .”

Your Diabalance Diabetes Supplement product is not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above referenced uses and, therefore, this product is a “new drug” under section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 321(p)]. With certain exceptions not applicable here, new drugs may not be legally introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce without prior approval from FDA, as described in sections 301(d) and 505(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 331(d), 355(a)]. FDA approves a new drug on the basis of scientific data and information demonstrating that the drug is safe and effective.

A drug is misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 352(f)(1)] if the drug fails to bear adequate directions for its intended use(s). “Adequate directions for use” means directions under which a layperson can use a drug safely and for the purposes for which it is intended (21 CFR 201.5). Prescription drugs, as defined in section 503(b)(1)(A) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 353(b)(1)(A)], can only be used safely at the direction, and under the supervision, of a licensed practitioner.

Your product Diabalance Diabetes Supplement is intended for treatment of one or more diseases that, with certain exceptions not applicable here, are not amenable to self‐diagnosis or treatment without the supervision of a licensed practitioner. Therefore, it is impossible to write adequate directions for a layperson to use your product safely for its intended purposes. Accordingly, Diabalance Diabetes Supplement fails to bear adequate directions for its intended use and, therefore, the product is misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 352(f)(1)]. The introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of this misbranded drug violates section 301(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 331(a)].

This letter is not intended to be an all‐inclusive statement of violations that may exist in connection with your product. You are responsible for investigating and determining the causes of any violations and for preventing their recurrence or the occurrence of other violations. It is your responsibility to ensure that your firm complies with all requirements of federal law, including FDA regulations.

This letter notifies you of our concerns and provides you an opportunity to address them. Failure to adequately address these matters may result in legal action including, without limitation, seizure and injunction.

Please notify FDA in writing, within 15 working days of receipt of this letter, of the specific steps you have taken to address any violations. Include an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of violations, as well as copies of related documentation. If you cannot complete corrective action within 15 working days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which you will do so. If you believe that your products are not in violation of the Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration.

Your written reply to the above violations should be directed to Rob Genzel Jr. with the FDA via email at CFSANResponse@fda.hhs.gov. If you have any questions, you may also email at CFSANResponse@fda.hhs.gov.

FTC Cease and Desist Demand: In addition, the Federal Trade Commission has determined that it is unlawful under the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 41 et seq., to advertise that a product can prevent, treat, or cure human disease unless you possess a reasonable basis consisting of competent and reliable scientific evidence, including, when appropriate, well‐controlled human clinical studies, substantiating that the claims are true at the time they are made. POM Wonderful LLC, 155 F.T.C. 1, 60‐61, (2013), aff’d in relevant part, 777 F.3d 478 (D.C. Cir. 2015); Daniel Chapter One, FTC Dkt. No. 9239, 2009 WL 5160000 at *16‐19 (F.T.C. Dec. 24, 2009), aff’d, 405 Fed. Appx.505 (D.C. Cir. 2010); Removatron Int'l Corp., 111 F.T.C. 206, 297‐99 (1988), aff’d, 884 F.2d 1489, 1496 (1st Cir. 1989); see also, FTC v. Direct Mktg. Concepts, 569 F. Supp. 2d 285, 300, 303 (D. Mass. 2008), aff’d, 624 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2010); FTC v. Nat'l Urological Group, Inc., 645 F. Supp. 2d 1167, 1190, 1202 (N.D. Ga. 2008), aff’d, 356 Fed. Appx. 358 (11th Cir. 2009); FTC v. Natural Solution, Inc., No. CV 06‐6112‐JFW, 2007‐2 Trade Cas. (CCH) P75,866, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60783, at *11‐12 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 7, 2007). More generally, to make or exaggerate such claims, whether directly or indirectly, through the use of a product name, website name, metatags, or other means, without rigorous scientific evidence sufficient to substantiate the claims, violates the FTC Act. See Daniel Chapter One, WL 5160000 at *17‐19.

The FTC is concerned that one or more of the efficacy claims cited above may not be substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence. Notice is hereby given that you must cease and desist from making any claim that a product and prevent, treat, or cure diabetes without competent and reliable scientific evidence consisting of well‐controlled human clinical studies substantiating that the claims are true. Violations of the FTC Act may result in legal action seeking a Federal District Court injunction or Administrative Cease and Desist Order. In addition, marketers who make deceptive claims about the treatment, cure, prevention, or mitigation of a disease may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $43,792 per violation pursuant to Section 5(m)(1)(B) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(m)(1)(B), and may be required to pay refunds to consumers or provide other relief pursuant to Section 19(b) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 57b(b). With regard to the advertising claims discussed above, please notify Richard Cleland of the FTC via electronic mail at rcleland@ftc.gov within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of this letter of the specific actions you have taken to address FTC's concerns.

Sincerely,
/S/
Glenn Bass
Acting Deputy Director
Office of Compliance
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Food and Drug Administration

Sincerely,
/S/
Serena Viswanathan
Associate Director
Division of Advertising Practices
Federal Trade Commission