FDA Warns Companies Selling CBD Products

FDA sends warning letters to 15 companies for illegally selling CBD products

(RxWiki News) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to 15 companies for illegally selling CBD products.

These companies have received letters for illegally selling products containing cannabidiol (CBD). These products violate laws set by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).

The violations include the following:

  • Marketing CBD products to treat or cure diseases. According to the FDA, any product that claims to cure a disease and is intended to affect the structure or function of the body is considered a drug. However, except for one prescription medication used to treat epilepsy, CBD products have not been approved by the FDA.
  • Marketing CBD products as dietary supplements. CBD products do not meet the definition of a dietary supplement, according to the FDA.
  • Adding CBD to human and animal foods. According to the FDA, it is illegal to market any human or animal food to which certain ingredients, such as CBD, have been added.

Currently, CBD products are sold as capsules, food products like chocolate bars and teas, oil drops, syrups and topical lotions and creams.

“We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe, or that trying CBD ‘can’t hurt,’" said FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Dr. Amy Abernethy in a press release. "Aside from one prescription drug approved to treat two pediatric epilepsy disorders, these products have not been approved by the FDA and we want to be clear that a number of questions remain regarding CBD’s safety — including reports of products containing contaminants, such as pesticides and heavy metals — and there are real risks that need to be considered."

There has been no evaluation as to whether these unapproved products work for the listed uses or how they interact with prescription medications, the FDA noted. These products have not been evaluated for dosage, dangerous side effects or other safety concerns.

These are the 15 companies the FDA issued warning letters to:

  • Koi CBD LLC
  • Pink Collections Inc.
  • Noli Oil
  • Natural Native LLC
  • Whole Leaf Organics LLC
  • Infinite Product Company LLLP
  • Apex Hemp Oil LLC
  • Bella Rose Labs
  • Sunflora Inc.
  • Healthy Hemp Strategies LLC
  • Private I Salon LLC
  • Organix Industries Inc.
  • Red Pill Medical Inc.
  • Sabai Ventures Ltd.
  • Daddy Burt LLC

Speak with your health care provider if you have any questions.

Written by Anyssa Garza, PharmD, BCMAS