Researchers from New Zealand assessed the advice provided by 26 health food stores (HFS) and 26 pharmacies to an individual presenting with symptoms suggestive of moderate to severe asthma that had not seen a general practitioner. The advice provided by the two types of store differed markedly. Of the 26 pharmacy staff, 22 diagnosed asthma/probable asthma, whereas only 15 of the 26 HFS staff reached the same conclusion. Of the pharmacy staff, 92.3% referred the investigator to a doctor, compared with 34.6% of HFS staff; five HFS staff advised the investigator against seeing a doctor. A wide variety of remedies was recommended by the HFS, none of which is known to be beneficial in the treatment of asthma.