Skip to main content
Clear icon
78º

Federal officials send letters to seven companies allegedly claiming their products can treat coronavirus

Products marketed include teas, essential oils and colloidal silver

No description found

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have sent joint letters to seven companies allegedly making deceptive or scientifically unsupported claims about their products’ ability to treat COVID-19 coronavirus, federal officials said Monday.

The FTC said these are the first warning letters issued by the agencies alleging unapproved or unsupported claims that products can treat or prevent coronavirus.

Recommended Videos



What should I do about the coronavirus without health insurance, paid sick leave?

The FTC and FDA sent letters to the following seven companies: Vital Silver, Quinessence Aromatherapy Ltd., N-ergetics, GuruNanda, LLC, Vivify Holistic Clinic, Herbal Amy LLC and The Jim Bakker Show.

The agencies said the products sold by these companies that claim to treat or prevent coronavirus include teas, essential oils and colloidal silver, which the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH) says are tiny silver particles in a liquid that is promoted online as a dietary supplement.

How exactly does coronavirus spread?

The FDA said there are currently no approved vaccines, drugs or investigational products available to treat or prevent the virus, according to a news release.

“There already is a high level of anxiety over the potential spread of coronavirus,” FTC Chairman Joe Simons said. “What we don’t need in this situation are companies preying on consumers by promoting products with fraudulent prevention and treatment claims. These warning letters are just the first step. We’re prepared to take enforcement actions against companies that continue to market this type of scam.”

Here’s how to wash your hands and why experts agree you’re not doing it right

The agencies said in their letters that one or more of the efficacy claims made by the companies violate the FTC Act.

“The FDA considers the sale and promotion of fraudulent COVID-19 products to be a threat to the public health. We have an aggressive surveillance program that routinely monitors online sources for health fraud products, especially during a significant public health issue such as this one. The FDA’s laws are designed to protect the public health by ensuring, among other things, that drugs are safe and effective for their intended uses,” FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. said.

CDC urges people over 60, those with health conditions to prepare, stay near home amid coronavirus

Hahn said in the news release that the FDA will continue to pursue companies that place the public health at risk and will hold bad actors accountable.

The FTC told the companies in the letters that if the false claims did not stop, it may seek a federal court injunction and an order to get those companies to refund money to customers.

The companies had 48 hours to let the FTC know about the specific actions they have taken to address the agency’s concerns, according to the news release.

The agencies said in the news release that they will continue to monitor online marketplaces, social media and incoming complaints to ensure companies do not continue to market fake products under a different name or on another website.

For more coronavirus coverage, visit KSAT.com/coronavirus.


About the Author
Ivan Herrera headshot

Ivan Herrera, MSB, has worked as a journalist in San Antonio since 2016. His work for KSAT 12 and KSAT.com includes covering consumer and money content, news of the day and trending stories.

Loading...

Recommended Videos