FTC Sends Letters Warning 50 More Marketers to Cease Unsubstantiated COVID-19 Prevention Claims

The Federal Trade Commission announced it has sent letters warning 50 more marketers nationwide to immediately cease making unsubstantiated claims that their products and therapies can treat or prevent COVID-19.

This is the fifth set of warning letters the FTC has announced as part of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers from health-related COVID-19 scams.

To date, the FTC has sent similar letters to more than 120 companies and individuals.

Several of the letters announced most recently today target “treatments,” including Chinese herbal medications, music therapy, ozone therapy, and shields claimed to boost the immune system by protecting the wearer from electromagnetic fields.

The FTC sent the recent letters to the companies and individuals listed below.

Supplements and Chinese Herbal Treatments:

Acupuncture:

Homeopathic Treatments:

Nebulizers:

Ozone and Intravenous (IV) Therapies/Hydrotherapy:

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy and Scalar Frequencies:

In the letters, the FTC states that one or more of the efficacy claims made by the marketers are unsubstantiated because they are not supported by scientific evidence, and therefore violate the FTC Act.

The letters advise the recipients to immediately stop making all claims that their products can treat or cure COVID-19, and to notify the Commission within 48 hours about the specific actions they have taken to address the agency’s concerns.

The letters also note that if the false claims do not cease, the Commission may seek a federal court injunction and an order requiring money to be refunded to consumers.

Last month, the FTC announced its first case against a marketer of such products, Marc Ching, doing business as Whole Leaf Organics.

The FTC previously sent warning letters to sellers of vitamins, herbs, colloidal silver, teas, essential oils, and other products pitched as scientifically proven COVID-19 treatments or preventatives.

The FTC also recently announced letters targeting general therapy products, supplements, and herbal treatments.

The recent letters went to the marketers of more esoteric products and services, including nebulizers, naturopathic and homeopathic treatments, hydrotherapy, and freeze-dried horse milk.

Richard B. Newman is an advertising practices attorney at Hinch Newman LLP. 

Informational purposes only. Not legal advice. May be considered attorney advertising.

 

Posted in , , , , , , ,

Please contact us at (212) 756-8777, via email to info@hinchnewman.com or via our Online Case Submission Form.