Liquid Protein Question

Quick question (I hope) - Does anyone know why the GNC liquid protein has a disclaimer on it that says not to use for weight loss - just as a dietary supplement?  It's one of the tolerable sources of liquid protein and isn't as expensive as the New Whey protein.  GNC Pro Performance® Liquid Protein - Punch

• Pro Performance® Liquid Protein offers 18 grams (1800 mg) of naturally-occurring amino acids.
• Amino acids are the building blocks of protein; they are involved in protein synthesis, aid in maintaining nitrogen balance and help fuel skeletal muscles.*
• Pro Performance® Liquid Protein supplies a blend of essential and non-essential amino acids plus Branched Chain Amino Acids, which help to reduce protein breakdown.*
• Punch flavored liquid delivery..
• Supplies naturally occurring amino acids— Typical Amino Acid Profile:

* 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.

Simply take three tablespoons before or after workouts and as a dietary supplement between or before meals.

		Serving Size  45 milliliters Servings Per Container  21 Amount Per Serving   % DV Calories    90.00     Sodium    90.00 mg   4%  Total Carbohydrate    5.00 g   2%  Sugars    5.00 g     Protein    18.00 g   36%   ** Daily Value (DV) not established

Other Ingredients:  Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Crystalline Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate Storage Instructions:  Store in a cool dry place. Warning:  Use this product as a food supplement only. Do not use for weight reduction. After opening, keep tightly closed in refrigerator or other cool place

I;m not sure but I think it has to do with FDA labeling regulations. My guess is that because it is relatively dense in calories it can't be labeled that way, but this is a guess.....FYI I got this letter from Unjury regarding "protein bullets" not really sure what to make of it though - sounds like the info makes sense but you got take it with a grain of salt based on the fact it is coming from a competitor of those "bullets" Here is a link to a discussion where a copy of that letter is available as an attachment: http://groups.msn.com/GeorgetownBandsters/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=14352&LastModified=4675621717347504398 anyone else want to weigh in on the controversy?

When UNJURY sent out the "test results" via an email blast it was a hot topic around here. The fact that UNJURY sent it and apparently have done so in the past, it really hurts their credibility, IMO. Had it beens ent out by a legit third party or the FDA or some other consumer group NOT affiliated with Unjury, I would believe it.  IMO this is nothing more than SPSM. if itn were true the FDA would be all over ISD( I thinks it was them)  On the main forum today this came up and the poster call IDS adn they sent here the test results to prove their claims of 42grams. some at GNC told here they only had 10 grams.

Just guessing here, but I'd say it's a topic of CYA. If they say it's for weight loss then you have to loose weight using it. Just because it isn't slated for the weight loss community doesn't mean that it isn't a good supplement for WLS patients to use. IMHO

OK, did a little Google research and found out that basically the FDA requires this warning if 50% or more of the calories come from protein. It all stems from a rash of deaths in the 1970's of people linked to the use of very low calorie diets that consisted primarily of protein, especially low biological value protein like hydrolyzed gelatin or collagen (which is what liquid bullets are). This info seems to support what the Unjury letter claims. If  you read the article you might get a little worried because it makes the low calorie diet (which we will be on) sound dangerous, but keep in mind that this is why you are medical supervision, working with a nutritionist, having bloodwork done on a regular basis, supplementing, etc...Like with everything else though, it is always best to rely on your doctor's advice not mine or anyone elses. Hope this helps though.... Here is a link to the article I found from the FDA's own website: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00070.html Here is an excerpt from that article talking about the evolution of the warning: WARNING: Very low calorie protein diets (below 400 Calories per day) may cause serious illness or death. Do Not Use for Weight Reduction in Such Diets Without Medical Supervision. Not for use by infants, children, or pregnant or nursing women. In the spring of 1984 the Food and Drug Administration published a final rule in the Federal Register requiring that the above warning appear on protein products promoted for weight reduction. The new regulation grew out of numerous reports of deaths associated with the use of very low calorie weight reduction regimens beginning in the late 1970s. An investigation by FDA and the federal Centers for Disease Control revealed a pattern of sudden death or death from irreversible abnormal heart rhythms in people who had been dieting for prolonged periods and had lost large amounts of weight. Of the first 58 reports, 17 deaths were of relatively young people (average age 35 years) who had no underlying disease to which the deaths could have been attributed. Six of the dieters died suddenly, six died in the hospital (having been admitted after fainting), and five nonhospitalized dieters suffered cardiac arrest. In 13 of the cases, the dieters total caloric intake came solely from a liquid collagen or gelatin protein solution.  Two patients supplemented their liquid protein once a day with a high-quality protein food. The remaining two used powdered products of a high-quality protein, one containing mineral supplements. No single brand product was used by more than two individuals.  The daily caloric intake for all dieters was from 300 to 400 calories, and all took a vitamin or vitamin-mineral supplement. Twelve of the dieters were under some form of medical supervision, ranging from thorough to infrequent follow-ups without laboratory tests. In December 1977, FDA first proposed to require warnings on the labels and labeling of protein products for weight reduction, and the following December a tentative final rule was published in the Federal Register. The final rule, requiring three different warnings for protein products deriving more than 50 percent of their total caloric value from protein, was published in April 1980. A month after publication, the Council for Responsible Nutrition a trade association whose membership includes manufacturers of dry, whole-protein products filed suit to invalidate the labeling regulations.  Although the court upheld FDA's overall labeling plan, it decided against the agency, finding insufficient evidence to support FDA's finding that diets between 400 and 800 calories per day may cause serious illness or death.  So, the court ordered the regulation back to FDA for further study and reformulation. In the Federal Register of June 11, 1982, FDA proposed a revised rule for protein product labels. After reviewing comments received in response to the new proposal, a final rule was developed. It became effective Aug. 6, 1984. The rule concerned label requirements for any food product in liquid, powdered, tablet, capsule, or similar form that derives 50 percent of its total caloric value from either whole protein, protein hydrolysates, amino acid mixtures, or a combination of these, and that is . . . promoted for use to reduce weight. Protein products are exempt from the labeling requirements if the product is represented as part of a nutritionally balanced diet plan providing 400 or more calories per day and the label specifies the diet plan in detail or briefly describes the plan and provides information on where it can be obtained.  In this case, the label must bear the following statement: NOTICE:  For weight reduction, use only as directed in the accompanying diet plan (the name and specific location in labeling of the diet plan may be included in this statement in place of accompanying diet plan). Do not use in diets supplying less than 400 calories per day without medical supervision. FDA, as a regulatory agency, does not formally approve diet plans. Unlike drugs, foods do not require pre-market approval.  An agency talk paper released Dec. 30, 1982, in response to inquiries about the safety of extremely low calorie diets, stated that There is a general consensus among nutrition and obesity control experts that extremely low calorie diets diets providing less than 400 calories per day are physiologically unsound regardless of their overall nutrient composition. The paper further stated that there is also a consensus among these experts that diets providing less than 800 calories per day should be used only under proper medical supervision, and that FDA concurs with the consensus. M.S.

Mike! I’m SO Proud!! (I wet myself just a little…) Thanks for the INFO!   U-Rawk!   Keep it Up! Best Wishes- Dx

Wow- that's good info to have. Thanks for taking the time to research this and respond! JP

Thanks everyone for your responses, I appreciate it very much.  Especially the FDA info on the evolution of the warnings regarding low cal diets and protein supplements.  Seems the warning is more or less a CYA for the maker of the supplement.  My Dr. also responded to my question and said that these proteins should be fine for use as a supplement in order to meet our daily protein requirements as long as they are below 5 carbs per serving.  So the GNC supplement I was interested in is Ok.  Thank Goodness!  I really dislike all those powdered mixes.  The GNC product doesn't taste all that hot but a serving is only a couple of TBSP which I can take (much like taking a medicine!)  Again, thanks folks for your responses!