Cherry products must drop medicinal claims: FDA

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Monday it warned more than two dozen companies to stop selling cherry products that claim to help treat or prevent cancer, heart disease, arthritis and other diseases.

The agency sent warning letters earlier this month to 29 companies, ordering them immediately to stop making the health claims on their Web sites and product labels.

"The companies cited are marketing dried fruit, fruit juice, and juice concentrate for treating or preventing of a variety of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and arthritis," the FDA said in a statement.

If the companies fail to take corrective measures, they may face FDA enforcement actions such as seizure of their products or criminal sanctions.

The following companies were sent the warning letters:

* Amon Orchards, Acme, Mich.

* Brownwood Acres, Eastport, Mich.

* Cherry Lands Best, Appleton, Wis.

* Cherry Republic, Glen Arbor, Mich.

* Cherry Rx, Genoa City, Wis.

* Chukar Cherry Co., Prosser, Wash.

* Coloma Frozen Foods, Coloma, Mich.

* Country Ovens, Ltd., Forestville, Wis.

* Eden Foods Inc, Clinton, Mich.

* Flavenoid Sciences, Traverse City, Mich.

* Friske Orchards, Ellsworth, Mich.

* Heritage Products International, Livonia, Mich.

* H & W Farms, Belding, Mich.

* King Orchards, Central Lake, Mich.

* Leelanau Fruit Co., Suttons Bay, Mich.

* Leland Cherry Co., Leland, Mich.

* Obstbaum Orchards, Salem, Mich.

* Orchard's Harvest, Traverse City, Mich.

* Overlake Foods Corp., Olymica, Wash.

* Payson Fruit Growers, Inc., Payson, Utah

* Rowley and Hawkins Fruit Farms, Basin City, Wash.

* Rowley's South Ridge Farms Inc., Santaquin, Utah.

* Royal Ridge Fruit & Cold Storage, Royal City, Wash.

* Seaquist Orchards, Sister Bay, Wis.

* Skyview Orchards, Ludington, Mich.

* Sunrise Dried Fruit Co., Northport, Mich.

* TPG Enterprises Inc., Othello, Wash.

* Traverse Bay Farms, Bellaire, Mich.