Popular over-the-counter remedies, approved by Health Canada as "safe and effective," may be supported by little to no scientific evidence that the products work, an investigation by CBC’s Marketplace reveals.
Canadians spend $2.4 billion a year on natural health products.While some products may have clinical trials or other scientific evidence to support their claims, many do not require any scientific proof, and there’s little way for consumers to tell the difference.
"It's frustrating that the government standards are not protecting the public the way they should be," Dr. Matthew Stanbrook, deputy editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), told Marketplace co-host Erica Johnson.
"If you want to sell a natural health product and you don't want to do the science to prove that it works, then don't claim that it works," Dr. Matthew Stanbrook told Marketplace co-host Erica Johnson. (CBC)
This is "lending the veneer of approval to something that really hasn't demonstrated the science."
To test how little evidence is required to get Health Canada to license a product,Marketplace created a children’s remedy, applied for approval and received a licence.
Manufacturers need a Health Canada licence number in order to sell their natural health product. Once a product is licensed, manufacturers can claim it is approved as "safe and effective."
The investigation found that even a remedy making serious health claims — such as the ability to reduce children’s fever — can acquire a licence with no scientific evidence.
