national council against health fraud national council against health fraud the national council against health fraud (ncahf) was a not-for-profit, us-based organization, that described itself as a "private nonprofit, voluntary health agency that focuses upon health misinformation, fraud, and quackery as public health problems." national council against health fraudformation1983typenetwork of peoplelocationunited statesofficial language englishwebsitewww.ncahf.org history according to archived website, the ncahf evolved from three separate organizations. the lehigh valley committee against health fraud, inc. (lvcahf, now called quackwatch) was founded in 1969 by stephen barrett and h. william gross, d.d.s. in allentown, pennsylvania. the southern california council against health fraud (sccahf) had its origin in 1976 at loma linda university with academic colleagues william t. jarvis and gordon rick as co-founders. thomas h. jukes of university of california, berkeley founded the third organization, an unnamed group in northern california. for a time between 1998 and 2000, the ncahf operated under the name national council for reliable health information (ncrhi). the organization became inactive in 2002, and its legal entity was formally dissolved in 2011. mission statement according to ncahf's mission statement, its activities and purposes included: investigating and evaluating claims made for health products and services. educating consumers, professionals, business people, legislators, law enforcement personnel, organizations and agencies about health fraud, misinformation, and quackery. providing a center for communication between individuals and organizations concerned about health misinformation, fraud, and quackery. supporting sound consumer health laws opposing legislation that undermines consumer rights. encouraging and aiding legal actions against those who violate consumer protection laws. sponsoring a free weekly e-mail newsletter. ncahf's positions on consumer health issues were based on what they considered ethical and scientific principles that underlie consumer protection law. required were: adequate disclosure in labeling and other warranties to enable consumers to make proper choices; premarketing proof of safety and efficacy for products and services that claim to prevent, alleviate, or cure any disease or disorder; and accountability for those who violate consumer laws. ncahf stated that its funding was primarily derived from membership dues, newsletter subscriptions, and consumer information services. membership was open to everyone, with members and consultants located all over the world. ncahf's officers and board members served without compensation. ncahf stated they united consumers with health professionals, educators, researchers, attorneys, and others. position on health issues acupuncture the ncahf asserted that acupuncture is scientifically unproven as a modality of treatment. in 1990, it said that research during the past twenty years had failed to demonstrate that acupuncture was effective against any disease. perceived effects of acupuncture are, argued the ncahf, probably due to a combination of expectation, suggestion and other psychological mechanisms. the ncahf pointed out that acupuncture was banned in china in 1929 but underwent a resurgence in the 1960s. the organization also advocated that insurance companies should not be required to cover acupuncture treatment and that licensure of lay acupuncturists should be phased out. amalgam fillings