Experts Question AIDS Food

By Charles Wendo HEALTH experts in Uganda have declined to endorse a food supplement that an American-based company claims can stop people with HIV/AIDS from developing diarrhoea.Legacy for Life last month approached the Ministry of Health to let them supply their product to Uganda. The company claims the supplement, Biochoice Immune 26, contains antibodies against 26 types of diarrhoea-causing bacteria. It also boosts the immune system, the manufacturers claim.But a 10-man committee of independent experts appointed by the Ministry of Health to vet the application ruled on Tuesday that the US company should first submit samples of the food supplement for testing. The experts also said the company should provide evidence that their product has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.Sources at the meeting said they wanted to avoid a repeat of past false hopes and exploitation of AIDS patients.Ends