Rippe, Taylor

English

University of Kentucky

BY TAYLOR RIPPEMeet Sam Girod: An Amish man and father of twelve from Bath County, Kentucky.[i] Girodproduces various forms of salves (i.e., products used to heal and protect the skin) out of his home inBath County. Girod sold his “Chickweed Salve” out of his home and in small convenience stores inKentucky and Missouri. In 2013, Girod was reported to authorities in Missouri, leading to aninjunction being ordered by a federal judge and the involvement of authorities in Kentucky.[ii] Ofparticular concern was Girod’s “Chickweed Salve,” containing natural ingredients such as rosemary,beeswax, and olive oil.[iii]Since 2015, Girod has been faced with a twelve-count federal indictment and up to sixty-eight yearsin prison. You might ask: wow is this possible when Girod’s products are made from ingredients youcan find in your grandmother’s kitchen? The FDA took issue with the consumer testimonialscontained in Girod’s pamphlets that accompanied the salve.[iv] The pamphlets claimed that Girod’ssalve helped treat skin cancer.[v] Further, the FDA had a problem with the name of the product –“Chickweed Healing Salve.”[vi] When a manufacturer makes a claim about the effectiveness of aproduct, the product becomes classified as a drug, and must then register its manufacturing facilitywith the FDA.[vii] The Girod family home, which Girod did not register with the FDA, would beconsidered the manufacturing facility under this rule. Girod renamed his product to “ChickweedSalve” to comply with the FDA.[viii]April 16, 2017HOMEMADE, NATURAL SKINHEALING PRODUCTS LANDBATH COUNTY AMISH MANIN FEDERAL PRISONH O M E  ( / )S U B M I S S I O N S  ( / S U B M I S S I O N S )A B O U TJ O U R N A L  ( / A B O U T )M AST H E A D  ( / N E W- PAG E )P R O S P E C T I V E  M E M B E R S  ( / P R O S P E C T I V E - M E M B E R S )S U B S C R I B E  ( / S U B S C R I B E )STA F F  R E S O U R C E S  ( / STA F F - R E S O U R C E S )P U B L I C AT I O N SP U B L I C AT I O N  A R C H I V E  ( / P U B L I C AT I O N - A R C H I V E )VO LU M E  1  ( 2 0 0 9 )  ( / VO LU M E - 1 - 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 )VO LU M E  2  ( 2 0 1 0 )  ( / VO LU M E - 2 - 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 0 )VO LU M E  3  ( 2 0 1 1 )  ( / VO LU M E - 3 - 2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 1 )VO LU M E  4  ( 2 0 1 2 )  ( / VO LU M E - 4 - 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 )VO LU M E  5  ( 2 0 1 3 )  ( / VO LU M E - 5 - 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3 )VO LU M E  6  ( 2 0 1 4 )  ( / VO LU M E - 6 - 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4 )VO LU M E  7  ( 2 0 1 5 )  ( / VO LU M E - 7 - 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5 )VO LU M E  8  ( 2 0 1 6 )  ( / VO LU M E - 8 - 2 0 1 5 - 2 0 1 6 )VO LU M E  9  ( 2 0 1 7 )  ( / VO LU M E - 9 - 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7 )VO LU M E  1 0  ( 2 0 1 8 )  ( / VO LU M E - 1 0 - 2 0 1 8 )SY M P O S I U MI N F O R M AT I O N  ( / SY M P O S I U M )B LO GF U L L  B LO G  ( / F U L L - B LO G )B LO G  A R C H I V E  ( / B LO G - A R C H I V E - 1 )COMMENTS (0)  Subscribe via e-mail0 Likes  Unfortunately for Girod, the Amish culture is one of simple means and passiveness. Some residentsof Bath County believe the FDA target the Amish because they are “easy prey.”[ix] Because of theirfaith, the Amish do not use lawyers.[x] Girod has been representing himself pro se, making anychance of full or partial dismissal slim at best.Despite Girod’s attempts to comply with the FDA, the agency pursued a case against Girod and atthe conclusion of the trial, the jury found Girod guilty on all twelve counts in the indictment.[xi]“The judge will sentence Girod at 10:00AM on Friday, June 16th, 2017. Until then, Girod willpresumably be incarcerated in the Fayette County Detention Center.”[xii]The result of this case is unsettling. While the FDA ensures consumer safety for the Americanpeople, is Sam Girod, the Amish farmer from Kentucky that makes a natural “skin healing” formulain his home, really the type of person against whom the consumer needs protection? One BathCounty resident proposes a solution to this significant government overreach: let individuals makehealing claims with disclaimers.[xiii] This simple solution provides a warning to consumers, whileallowing individuals like Sam Girod to manufacture their products without being disturbed by theFDA.[i] Vicki Batts, Amish farmer facing 68 years in federal prison for making homemade products, NaturalNews (Feb. 23, 2017), http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-02-23-amish-farmer-facing-68-years-in-federal-prison-for-making-homemade-products.html.[ii] Id.[iii] Hillary Thornton, WKYT investigation: Amish farmer in jail awaiting trial, facing time in federalprison, WKYT (Jan. 26, 2017, 4:50 PM), http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/WKYT-Investigation-Amish-farmer-in-jail-awaiting-trial-facing-time-in-federal-prison-411915635.html.[iv] David Gumpert, FDA Wants to Jail Sam Girod for 48 Years, for Making Salves People Love, DavidGumpert: The Complete Patient (Feb. 5, 2016, 7:25 PM), http://www.davidgumpert.com/2783-2.[v] Id.[vi] Id.[vii] Id.[viii] Id.[ix] Sally Oh, KY Amish Farmer Jailed over a Salve Lable; the FDA Wants Him Jailed for Life,kyfreepress.com (Jan. 15, 2017), http://www.kyfreepress.com/2017/01/fda-girod-indictment/.[x] Id.[xi] Sally Oh, The Trial: FDA v Samuel Girod Day 3, kyfreepress.com (Mar. 5, 2017),http://www.kyfreepress.com/2017/03/fda-v-sam-girod-trial-day-3/.[xii] Id.[xiii] Sally Oh, Sam Girod v FDA, kyfreepress.com (Mar. 30, 2017),http://www.kyfreepress.com/2017/03/updated-sam-girod-v-fda/.  ShareNewest FirstNewer PostDoes Mandatory GMO Labeling Further aCompelling Public Interest? (/full-blog/ashleylandblog2)Older PostWhat Are Navigable Waters? (/full-blog/morrisblog2)6 3 1  S O U T H  L I M E S TO N E ,  L E X I N G TO N ,  KY4 0 5 0 8 ( 8 5 9 )  2 5 7 - 4 7 4 7 B LO G . K J E A N R L @ G M A I L . C O M  ( M A I LTO : B LO G . K J E A N R L @ G M A I L . C O M )Preview  P O S T  C O M M E N T …SEARCHABLE ARCHIVE ( /PUBLICATION-ARCHIVE-1)

Homemade, Natural Skin Healing Products Land Bath County Amish Man in Federal Prison

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?filename=0&article=1416&context=law_kjeanrlblog&type=additional

Homemade, Natural Skin Healing Products Land Bath County Amish Man in Federal Prison

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Kentucky