Comments on: An Allergy to Truth http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/10/allergy-to-truth.html Experiments and Thoughts on Quackery, Health Beliefs and Pseudoscience Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:47:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Bernard http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/10/allergy-to-truth.html#comment-11100 Bernard Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:15:27 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/10/an-allergy-to-truth.html#comment-11100 My sister recently used the Yorktest and has completely eradicated very painful symptoms from the day she eliminated the specific foods. I took the test 6 years ago after a 4-year phase of worsening symptoms (very different to those of my sister). After the test and eliminating 5 foods I gradually got better over months, although I have still not eliminated the problem. I also called the company and nagged them until I was put through to someone who knew some science, because I was very sceptical. My sister recently used the Yorktest and has completely eradicated very painful symptoms from the day she eliminated the specific foods. I took the test 6 years ago after a 4-year phase of worsening symptoms (very different to those of my sister). After the test and eliminating 5 foods I gradually got better over months, although I have still not eliminated the problem. I also called the company and nagged them until I was put through to someone who knew some science, because I was very sceptical.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/10/allergy-to-truth.html#comment-5347 Anonymous Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:40:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/10/an-allergy-to-truth.html#comment-5347 The House of Lords Science & Technology Committee don't seem very happy either. They state<br/><br/>"Given the lack of evidence for these services we were concerned to learn that Allergy UK recommended the Yorktest service for food intolerance. " <br/><br/>and recommended <br/><br/>"We urge general practitioners, pharmacists and charities not to endorse the use of these products until conclusive proof of their efficacy has been established. <br/><br/><a HREF="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldselect/ldsctech/166/16611.htm#a83" REL="nofollow" rel="nofollow">House of Lords report</a> The House of Lords Science & Technology Committee don’t seem very happy either. They state

“Given the lack of evidence for these services we were concerned to learn that Allergy UK recommended the Yorktest service for food intolerance. ”

and recommended

“We urge general practitioners, pharmacists and charities not to endorse the use of these products until conclusive proof of their efficacy has been established.

House of Lords report

]]> By: Claire O'Beirne http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/10/allergy-to-truth.html#comment-5314 Claire O'Beirne Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:36:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/10/an-allergy-to-truth.html#comment-5314 Recently came across this useful round up of unorthodox diagnostic and treatment methods for allergy, asthma and immunue disorders:<br/><br/>http://www.allergy.org.au/pospapers/unorthodox.htm Recently came across this useful round up of unorthodox diagnostic and treatment methods for allergy, asthma and immunue disorders:

http://www.allergy.org.au/pospapers/unorthodox.htm

]]> By: bill http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/10/allergy-to-truth.html#comment-5258 bill Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:15:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/10/an-allergy-to-truth.html#comment-5258 Interesting post. It is always worrying when quackery raises its head in the form of misrepresentation of benefits of a treatment. <br/><br/>A reminder of the number and the size of various fines awarded against major drugmakers for criminal behaviour in the US, such as fraudulent marketing, should though be enough to scare any small organisation away from going too far. <br/><br/>From the number of incidents that come up on the internet, I would think that Pfizer hold the record on the number of criminal convictions within the drug industry, but the fines drug makers are ordered to pay, though in the £millions, are peanuts compared to their annual profits. In such cases a fine does little to stop their illegal activities and leaves the drug maker free to continue generously rewarding the many leading physicians attached to them for lending their names to misleading publications on the companies' behalf and for promoting the publications as 'evidence' of efficacy and safety. <br/><br/>The criminal fines are generally in the US, but the drugs are on the market worldwide and many people are now sadly aware that misconduct in science can kill.<br/><br/>Quackery is profitable it would seem wherever it is practised. Interesting post. It is always worrying when quackery raises its head in the form of misrepresentation of benefits of a treatment.

A reminder of the number and the size of various fines awarded against major drugmakers for criminal behaviour in the US, such as fraudulent marketing, should though be enough to scare any small organisation away from going too far.

From the number of incidents that come up on the internet, I would think that Pfizer hold the record on the number of criminal convictions within the drug industry, but the fines drug makers are ordered to pay, though in the £millions, are peanuts compared to their annual profits. In such cases a fine does little to stop their illegal activities and leaves the drug maker free to continue generously rewarding the many leading physicians attached to them for lending their names to misleading publications on the companies’ behalf and for promoting the publications as ‘evidence’ of efficacy and safety.

The criminal fines are generally in the US, but the drugs are on the market worldwide and many people are now sadly aware that misconduct in science can kill.

Quackery is profitable it would seem wherever it is practised.

]]> By: Claire O'Beirne http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/10/allergy-to-truth.html#comment-5252 Claire O'Beirne Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:18:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/10/an-allergy-to-truth.html#comment-5252 Given my family experience, what is of real help to people with allergy related problems is access to knowledgable clinical care and advice. Unfortunately, in the UK, there is a problem regarding provision of such care, as highlighted in the recent (26/09/07)HoL Sci&Tech Committe's report on Allergy, and the three previous reports (RCP (2003), House of Commons Health Select Committee (2005) and D0H Review of Allergy Services (2006). It is high time this was remedied, otherwise we will continue to have this vacuum filled by people promoting their unproven treatments, be it homeopathy, kinesiology, unproven food tests, or, indeed, breathing techniques which claim to treat - even 'reverse' - asthma and allergies. Asthma and allergy can kill, as I am sadly too well aware. Given my family experience, what is of real help to people with allergy related problems is access to knowledgable clinical care and advice. Unfortunately, in the UK, there is a problem regarding provision of such care, as highlighted in the recent (26/09/07)HoL Sci&Tech Committe’s report on Allergy, and the three previous reports (RCP (2003), House of Commons Health Select Committee (2005) and D0H Review of Allergy Services (2006). It is high time this was remedied, otherwise we will continue to have this vacuum filled by people promoting their unproven treatments, be it homeopathy, kinesiology, unproven food tests, or, indeed, breathing techniques which claim to treat – even ‘reverse’ – asthma and allergies. Asthma and allergy can kill, as I am sadly too well aware.

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