Confirmed: Human Placenta Not a Nutritional Supplement

Many of us here at the Gadget Lab had a feeling about this one, but now the FDA has confirmed it: Human placentas are not nutritional supplements. That ruling is bound to upset Danny, as well as Herbal Science International, a Japanese company who must now recall a number of its dietary supplements that contain things like ephedrine alkaloids, aristolochic acid (a rodent carcinogen) and human placenta.

Says the FDA:

Finally, the company is recalling Seng Jong Tzu Tong Tan, a product that contains human placenta. Human placenta may transmit disease and dietary supplements that contain it may not be lawfully marketed in the United States.

Japanese placenta connoisseurs needn't worry, though. The FDA's war on placentas will not affect the popular new "health drink" we wrote about last month since it only prevents placenta-based products from being marketed here in the U.S.

So to our Japanese friends we say: Imbibe your a refreshing peach-flavored pig placenta beverages with aplomb. Just don't expect to loose any weight.

[FDA through Medgadget]

Photo courtesy of Medgadget