MJ asks: “What is a Quack Miranda Warning and why is it supposed to appear on alternative medicine sites?”

The Quack Miranda Warning is slang for a statement found on many websites for the purpose of providing legal protection for the sellers of dubious medical therapies that are not backed by science. The statement usually follows the same format as the warning required by The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 regarding supplements:

“These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

The warning is supposed to be in bold-faced type and easily seen by the consumer. It is intended to inoculate the company selling the products from legal action by the FDA which requires that all products making health claims be backed by scientific evidence. Because most New Age and “natural” healing techniques lack scientific validity, this statement is necessary to protect themselves from being shut down.

For this reason, websites and other establishments that are in the business of selling New Age healing treatments will have this statement somewhere on their site.

However, consumers should be aware of what this statement really means – that the sellers know their product can’t do what they claim it does and that they are not willing to stand behind their own statements – but they still expect you to pay for it.

Buyer beware!