Impact of federal safety advisories on health food store advice.

In early 2002, the FDA and Health Canada issued federal advisories that people should discontinue taking the herbal antianxiolitic kava kava, until further information regarding safety and potential for liver damage were determined. We conducted a field study 2 months following the advisories in Toronto, Canada to determine whether kava kava continued to be recommended to consumers at retail health food stores. Eight participants asked employees at all stores what was recommended for anxiety and whether the products were safe. Twenty-two of 34 stores recommended kava kava, 9 of which mentioned safety concerns. Physicians should be aware that federal advisories may not affect sales of unsafe products.