Fake Coronavirus Treatments Bring Warnings From Federal Agencies
Fake Coronavirus Treatments Bring Warnings From Federal Agencies
(Bloomberg Law) -- Seven companies are violating federal law and putting patients at risk by falsely claiming their products, including essential oils and teas, can prevent or treat the coronavirus, the FDA and FTC said in joint warning letters released Monday.
No treatments or vaccines have been approved for Covid-19, a virus spreading across the globe that can kill vulnerable populations. As of Monday morning eleven people have died in the U.S. from the virus, according to a tally from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“There already is a high level of anxiety over the potential spread of coronavirus,” Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joe Simons said in a statement. “What we don’t need in this situation are companies preying on consumers by promoting products with fraudulent prevention and treatment claims.”
Simons said the agency will take enforcement actions against companies that continue to “market this type of scam.” Enforcement could mean demanding financial relief for customers or imposing civil penalties on the companies.
The Food and Drug Administration is especially concerned patients will delay or stop getting treatment for the virus because of false promises made by the companies.
Companies targeted by the warnings indicated that they have taken steps to comply with the agencies’ demands.
“Upon becoming aware of the joint FDA/FTC warning letter posted by the FDA, GuruNanda immediately removed any information related to treatment or prevention of COVID-19 and the coronavirus,” Megan Brown Bennett, the company’s CEO and president, said in a statement.
Jennifer Hickman, of Vital Silver, said she was “unaware that my was company violating FDA standards, or that any of the statements could be considered fraudulent. As per the FDA’s request I have removed all statements concerning the COVID-19 from my website and social media outlets.”
Representatives from Herbal Amy LLC and N-Ergetics also said they have addressed the issues outlined in the letters.
The agencies also sent letters to the Jim Bakker Show, Quinessence Aromatherapy, and Vivify Holistic Clinic. Representatives from those companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jacquie Lee in Washington at jlee1@bloomberglaw.com
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Fawn Johnson at fjohnson@bloomberglaw.com; Alexis Kramer at akramer@bloomberglaw.com
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