I was a believer. A firm believer in the power of Airborne, a dietary supplement and health formula which claimed to help prevent the flu and the common cold. I was truly "Airborne" again, you could say.

Not only did I take the stuff before flying, after flying and while sitting in row 16, seat A; I took it before school started and at the onset of any minor illness. More often than not, it worked--lifting my system from the possible depths of illness. Yes, the dreaded common cold. Airbone carried me through this year's cold season.

At least I thought it did.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit advocacy group, there is no credible evidence that Airborne prevents colds or protects consumers from germs.

Gasp! I am stunned. Crushed, really.

First Britney Spears, then Eliot Spitzer and now Airborne! What is going on here? My vitamins are now involved in scandal. This is truly a sad day for once-believers.

David Schardt, the group's senior nutritionist, recently released the statement: "Airborne is basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that's been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed."

If this news isn't heartbreaking, then I don't know what is. In a world filled with poverty, hunger, and war, we can no longer even count on the goodness of our dietary supplements. This is just the icing on the corruption cake.

How will I prevent the common cold now? By washing my hands, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep? Who has time for that? I know I don't. The flu future looks bleak to me.