Dr. Oz Taken To Task Over Green Coffee Weight Loss Claims

The famed and oft-scrutinized American television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz appeared before a consumer protection panel where he was given a stern but fair scolding by Chairman Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. over his penchant for calling things like green coffee extract “miracle weight loss cures”.

During the hearing, Dr. Oz denied endorsing specific products or taking money for direct sales of green coffee extract supplements. He did not deny taking money for appearing in these magazines:

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The Associated Press has more.

‘‘If you see my name, face or show in any type of ad, email or other circumstance,’’ Oz testified, ‘‘it’s illegal’’ — and not anything he has endorsed. He hasn’t allowed his name to be associated with specific brands, he said, because of ethical concerns he has about doctors making endorsements of health products.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked Oz if he would be willing to create a master list of brands he feels work, instead of suggesting that a general supplement may work for weight loss and then leaving consumers to poke around on the Internet in hopes of finding something

‘‘I’ve been actively looking at that,’’ said Oz. ‘‘With your suggestion and support, I think I’m going to do it and I think it’ll do a lot to drain the swamp that we’ve created around this area.’’
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Check out the hearing in the video below:

What do you think? Is green coffee extract a bunch of hokum? Is Dr. Oz full of it? Should congress take a chill pill? Sound off in the comments below!