This is a ridiculous article. You are stereotyping and you are providing inaccurate information about the qualifications of the people working in health food stores. More and more, health food stores look to hire graduates of nutrition or a related field. The Wholistic Dispensary at The Carrot only hires Nutritionists or Naturopaths, just as an example. Oh, and by the way, one of the pharmacists in my neighbourhood recommended that I take cold medication even though I'm asthmatic and it says on the box not to take it if you're asthmatic. So, sorry but I have very little confidence in pharmacists despite the CBC's findings. They are overworked just like physicians and usher you along without much forethought or afterthought for that matter.

I would trust the employee at the health food store first. They are giving out food, not drugs. How many people have died from vitamins in the last 10 years? It is almost impossible to hurt yourself with vitamins, whereas tens of thousands die from prescription drugs each year. I would wager that now a day’s people take as much vitamins as prescription drugs as well.....or at least it is comparable.
The 19 year old (what has the piercing have to do with it?) works at a health food store; right there he is showing an interest in personal health, much like you would expect someone who works in a sporting goods store to have some sort of interest in sports. I have been going to health food stores for over 25 years and I have NEVER met an employee who did not have some sort of interest in health and nutritional products. The young people who All of the information needed to give a safe and intelligent referral is at hand.....in reality, you can and should look up for yourself what you require so you can get what is right for you, instead of the lemming approach we are encouraged by the main stream medical system.
Please note; some side affects of the more healthy approach of vitamins may be a feeling of satisfaction as you actually learn something of how the body works and what it requires, thus reducing your reliance of our already strapped, conventional, "Health Care System”.

I'll start off by saying that I guess I'm not surprised that this article showed up at the top of the Sympatico newsfeed. Anything to scare the general public away from natural medicine...

I have to agree with the previous posters in that it is always best to research what you're looking for before heading to the health food store. I have encountered many helpful and knowledgeable people who work there, but I also know that some people are working there because they need a job, or they are just generally interested in it. Unfortunately, there's just not the funds to pay the people who work at health food stores to get a degree in natural medicine. Cue the naturopath.

Finally, what's with the discrimination against the people with piercings? Just because they have some piece of metal sticking out of their face, doesn't mean that they're going to rob you at knife point. It's hard to take this article seriously when you write things like this.

Is this really surprising? First of all to those out there who get their information from the internet, please ensure that the source is reputable and not sponsored by parties who may be biased. With that being said, I am a pharmacist and have a 5 year degree in pharmacy. A pharmacy degree is an accumulation of education starting with basic sciences, moving into anatomy, physiology, immunology, nutrition, biochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, etc. I strongly support a healthier lifestyle and often that means choosing a natural product over a a prescription medication. That being said, a patient has a right to choose. I offer educated information, on all alternatives and then the patient ultimately makes a decision. I get paid a salary, which means I get the same pay regardless of what I recommend. Would I rather see a person lose 10lbs than take a prescription blood pressure medication? Of course. Would I rather that same person exercise and diet rather than take a herbal stimulant? Of course. Plain and simple, the truth is that many prescription drugs come from natural sources. That being said, not all natural sources are healthy. St. John's Wort can help some patients, but be very dangerous in others. The age old question of natural versus prescription must be answered by each individual. Some prescription drugs can have nasty side effects and so can natural products. Ensuring a patient is best educated to make that health decision is my job. I have spoken to health food store staff in the past and my experiences have told me that they are uninformed with health decisions and this can lead to harm to the patient.

I am a nutritionist, as well as a health food retail store manager. While I agree that there are some stores in the natural health industry that may not always have the most educated staff, their competence or training can't be judged solely by their job/profession and age. Many stores require training and education prior to hiring as well as regular ongoing training during employment. The fact that government regulations such as those provided by the NHPD branch of Health Canada ensure product safety and efficacy are a perfect example of the standards of care required for natural health products. By implying that a person's appearance or age is directly related to their level of education or job training shows a negative bias. I'm sure there are more than a few pharmacists who have tattoo's and piercing's of their own or are in their 20’s, yet your article does not mention that or imply that it may effect their judgment or ability to effectively provide advice as it apparently does people working in health food stores. Though you quoted an article about a study, you failed to include information describing the study parameters which could yield important information about how the study was conducted. For all we know the study was done incorrectly and is therefore flawed and should never have been used for reference. Please research your topics and consider issues such as these before writing your articles.

How about reading about your "problem" BEFORE showing up at the health food store so that you already know what you should buy? There is something called the internet now that may help with that...

Where can this study be viewed and who to say that the person working in the "health" food store hasn't studied the question asked. Natural health remedies have been tried and proven for genereations. As far as a the money who do I trust more a retail clerk that loves their job and believes in what they are doing or a doctor who is being wined and dined by drug companies

Listen here you pharma pushers , when I go to the health food store I already know what I am Buying, as I always research . And it ain't what the mainstream medea endorses, which is a way to treat, without healing, as that would be profitable.