Journal of general internal medicine
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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. ⋯ 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.