FDA Flip-Flops on P&G Warning Over Vitamin C in NyQuil
The FDA published and then withdrew a warning letter slamming Procter & Gamble for promoting Vick’s Nyquil and DayQuil Plus Vitamin C. Reuters spotted the unusual move, and the FDA said the letter was “posted in error.” It originally said:
“Because the vitamin C in these products is an active drug ingredient, it is therefore both false and misleading to state that it is an inactive ingredient in these drug products,” the FDA wrote to P&G President and Chief Executive Bob McDonald.
The FDA has done this sort of thing before. In 2006 it once floated a study of the effect coupons and free drug offers. But then it got cold feet and cancelled the study.
While it’s not clear whether FDA approves or disapproves of P&G marketing a cold therapy with Vitamin C, it has expressed doubts about such nutrition-enhanced products before. In October 2009, it cited Bayer for marketing an unapproved new drug when that company launched an aspirin with calcium. Regarding today’s events, P&G said:
The company issued a statement saying it believes it is “marketing within the FDA regulations and will work with the FDA to resolve the concern together.” The FDA letter asked for a response from the company within 15 working days.
BNET’s take: It seems reasonable that the FDA should discourage mixtures of drugs with active ingredients and nutrition products. Consumers should not be confused into thinking that taking acetaminophen and dextromethorphan – the ingredients in NyQuil — are “good” for you, or a source of daily nutrition.
Jim Edwards, a former managing editor of Adweek, has covered drug marketing at Brandweek for four years, and is a former Knight-Bagehot fellow at Columbia University's business and journalism schools. Follow him on Twitter or send him an email.
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