Would you like insect parts with that?

That’s apparently what some rogue online pharmacies should be asking their customers when they order prescription medications from their Web sites!

According to news reports:

A new study by the European Union found that 62 percent of medications bought online were not what they were said to be. The study used purchases of 30 medications from 100 Internet pharmacies.

“They have heavy metals in them. They have insect parts. They have pesticides in them,” C. Wayne Weart, a pharmacy professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, said, “And some of them have some of the active ingredients, and some don’t. And some have other drugs.”

Weart also said many Internet pharmacies claim to be in Canada, but actually are in places like Africa, India or Pakistan.

Weart is right. Many rogue pharmacies claim to be licensed Canadian pharmacies, but actually aren’t legitimate pharmacies at all. They are criminal operations based in Third World ratholes, willing to risk your safety (or even your life) to scam you for a few dollars.

These rogue pharmacies — most of which are no prescription pharmacies — try to fool you by claiming to be Canadian and by even putting the seals of organizations like the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) on their sites.

It’s critical that the online pharmacy you order from is actually licensed in Canada (or in a Tier 1 country like Australia, New Zealand or the U.K.) You can be certain that the pharmacies in the No Prescription Needed network are all properly licensed. We can even show you how to confirm this on official Canadian government Web sites.

So don’t take chances. Join No Prescription Needed to save — and be safe.

The FDA, once the most respected of federal agencies, has had its effectiveness stripped away over the past decade because of budget slashing and the creeping influence of large pharmaceutical companies in its decision-making. A de-fanged FDA has been no match for greedy Big Pharma in stopping Vioxx and other questionable drugs from reaching the marketplace.

Now more than ever, you need to be your own watchdog — your own FDA — in deciding what you ingest and what you don’t. And that’s especially true when it comes to supplements, which are largely unregulated by the FDA.

Dr. Mike Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz suggest asking yourself the following five questions when buying supplements or food products claiming to “fortified” with nutritional or other health benefits :

1. Is this the best way to get the nutrients I need?

Here’s all most of us need to fill any gaps in our diet: a moderate-dose multivitamin, cut in half and taken morning and night, plus additional supplements for vitamin D (1,000-1,200 IU per day), calcium-plus-magnesium (600 mg calcium plus 200 mg magnesium twice a day) and B 12 (25 micrograms). If you like soft drinks, enjoy a no-calorie version once in a while, but there’s no way they can make up for nutrients you should be getting every day.

2. Does the health claim make sense?

FDA rules say products can’t claim to treat or cure diseases, but marketers are sneaky. Be skeptical. Sorry, but as of now you can’t take a “miracle” weight-loss pill and eat what you want “without worry.” And a cholesterol-lowering supplement won’t make your numbers plummet in a few weeks…

3. Can I reach the same health goal by a safer route?

Losing weight with a questionable product may bring on far more problems than the extra pounds did, especially if substances in the supplement interact with other medications you’re taking. Eating smart (lots of fruits, vegetables and fiber) and exercising regularly might take a little longer, but it won’t land you in the emergency room…

4. Is it really safe?

Don’t assume that over-the-counter drugs are harmless. Fact is, almost anything can be harmful when taken in large enough doses for a long enough time, especially when combined with other supplements or meds you may be taking.

5. Is it USP-verified?

When we … buy supplements, we look for the “USP verified” mark on the label. This means the United States Pharmacopeia, a reliable nonprofit science organization, has tested and verified its contents. It’s the best evidence that a supplement actually contains the ingredients listed on the label, in the quantities claimed, and that it doesn’t contain contaminants. You can find a list of supplements tested by the USP at www.usp.org.