National Council Against Health Fraud

National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) is a non-profit, American voluntary health agency that focuses on health fraud, misinformation, and quackery as public health problems. Its main concerns include consumer protection, consumer rights, and the improvement of health fraud education for consumers and professionals.

History

The NCAHF was founded in 1977 by Stephen Barrett, a retired psychiatrist, and a group of other concerned citizens. The organization was initially based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, but later moved to Loma Linda, California.

Mission and Activities

The NCAHF's mission is to advocate for consumer protection against health fraud and misinformation. It provides information and resources to consumers, health professionals, and policy makers about health fraud, misinformation, and quackery. The organization also conducts research, provides expert testimony in court cases, and works to improve the quality of health information available to the public.

Criticism and Controversy

The NCAHF has been criticized by some alternative medicine practitioners and dietary supplement manufacturers who claim that the organization is biased against non-traditional therapies. However, the NCAHF maintains that its goal is to protect consumers from misleading health information and unsafe or ineffective treatments.

See Also

• Quackwatch
• Consumer protection
• Health fraud

References

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