The cycle begins:

1. A real person gets is inspired by a miracle molecule to improve health (it might be a cure for a personal infirmity, an online article or other means of inspiration),
2. Decides to test it on themselves,
3. Finds real relief and becomes very excited,
4. Turns it into a potion in the home kitchen or garage,
5. Promotes the idea to friends,
6. Manufactures it in bigger batches and self-markets it,
7. Hooks up with an entrepreneur looking to market it,
8. Gets the bad news about slotting fees in supermarkets or drug stores,
9. A journalist picks up on it and praises the item on a health website,
10. Online articles cite it as a great, safe, and simple way to improve personal health,
11. Publicity increases demand,
12. Home production can’t keep up with demand,
13. Bought out by a Small Company,
14. Small Company goes regional and gets modest sales,
15. Online sites tout the benefits of this new ‘magical’ molecule or potion,
16. A celebrity announces that this product is great for what ails us,
17. More publicity generates more sales,
18. A Big Company buys up the rights to produce and market the product on a national scale,
19. Sales shoot up and shortages result as Big Company can’t keep up with demand,
20. News comes out that overuse may be dangerous OR that it is more hype than actual benefit,
21. Big Company is criticized online and sales begin to taper off,
22. Big Company finds that the miracle product doesn’t meet sales projections over too long a time period,
23. Big Company discontinues production and finds alternate channels for distribution of excess product,
24. Fans of the product become frustrated when they can’t find it on store shelves and start to look for alternatives,
25. Social media sites report locations where the product is still currently for sale,
26. Remaining product disappears from all markets partially due to hoarding, and
27. Cycle begins again with another miracle health solution.

The cycle can occur with more or fewer steps from those listed above. It is not limited to molecules, but could include restrictive diet plans, medical devices, or exercise patterns. I know of no products that fit this path exactly although many follow several of these steps. Blood test kits, detoxing, eye drops, GMO purple tomatoes, ivermectin, olestra, phenylephrine, plant-based meats, and raspberry ketone come to mind.

Reader’s challenge: Report to me any instance online with ‘chemical’ described in a positive light in an article on food or ‘molecule’ in a negative connotation in food or medicine.   

Coming soon: Who do we want making decisions about the health and safety of our foods?