Article Date: 15 Oct 2005

The FDA has requested a sixth extension on giving a decision regarding
American Longevity's health claim petition on the link between lycopene
and a reduced risk of developing certain types of cancer, until November
11, 2005.

American Longevity has compiled scientific studies indicating that
consumption of tomatoes, tomato-based products and lycopene
supplementation may reduce the incidence of prostate, lung and stomach
cancers and submitted these to the agency on January 21, 2004, along
with its petition.

A decision was initially expected on December 24, 2004. However, since
mid-December the agency has requested six extensions. A decision is now
expected November 11, 2005. In recent months the agency has asked for
extensions in its review of seven other pending qualified health claim
petitions, citing a lack of agency resources.
"Obviously, we are disappointed that the FDA has already delayed us by
22 months in getting this important health information out to the
general public," states Steve Wallach of American Longevity. "However,
we look forward to getting approval on this lycopene/cancer health claim
in November."

American Longevity has submitted several Health Claim Petitions to the
FDA and is responsible for the authorized Health Claim Petition for
Selenium and its relationship to Cancer Risk Reduction. American
Longevity has helped to defend the Health Claim Petition process through
the courts and has submitted many official comments to the FDA on behalf
of the nutrition industry, all in an effort to help consumers have more
access to truthful information in order to base a more informed decision
regarding their own health and wellness.

Last month, four representatives of a coalition of 28 dietary supplement
companies, public interest groups and supplement distributors announced
the commencement of a national grass-roots campaign to end FDA and FTC
censorship of health information. After a Capitol Hill briefing on the
subject, the Liberty Caucus, comprised of 24 members of Congress,
endorsed the initiative and its members would be among those
cosponsoring a bill to open the marketplace to accurate nutrient-disease
information. American Longevity is among the groups now active across
the United States seeking signatures on a petition to Congress demanding
legislative reform between now and January 2006 (the petition may be
downloaded from
http://www.americanlongevity.net/press_release/petition.php). The
campaign for reform will continue until the bills become law. The groups
combined customer and membership lists include over 15 million American
consumers.

American Longevity is a leading designer of Dietary Supplements and
cutting edge personal care and wellness lifestyle products. The company
was founded in April of 1997 in San Diego, California by Joel D. Wallach
BS, DVM, ND, and Ma Lan MD, MS. American Longevity markets its products
worldwide, through a network of independent distributors.

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional    
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."
http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc