35 More Marketers Warned About Unsupported COVID-19 Claims

FTC Warns 35 Marketers To Stop Making Unsupported Claims That Their Products and Therapies Can Effectively Prevent Or Treat COVID-19

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is making consumers aware that on June 4, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission announced it has sent letters warning 35 more marketers nationwide to stop making unsubstantiated claims that their products and therapies can treat or prevent COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. This is the sixth set of warning letters the FTC has announced as part of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers from health-related COVID-19 scams. In all, the Commission has sent similar letters to more than 160 companies and individuals.

Most of the letters announced by the FTC target “treatments” offered in clinics or medical offices, including intravenous (“IV”) Vitamin C and D infusions, supposed stem cell therapy, and vitamin injections that may at first glance appear to be based in medicine or proven effective. However, currently, according to the FTC, there is no scientific evidence that these, or any, products or services can treat or cure COVID-19.

The following recipients of the FTC’s letters are grouped based on the type of therapy, product, or service they pitched as preventing or treating COVID-19:

Intravenous (IV) and Ozone Therapies, Immunity Boosting Injections

• Arizona Natural Medicine Physicians PLLC (Chandler, Arizona)
• Doll House MedSpa & Anti-Aging Clinic (San Antonio, Texas)
• Dr. Eric Nepute; Neptute Wellness Center (St. Louis, Missouri)
• East Valley Naturopathic Doctors (Mesa, Arizona)
• Enliven (Odessa, Texas)
• Gonino Center for Healing (Heath, Texas)
• Health Associates Medical Group (Sacramento, California)
• Innovation Compounding (Kennesaw, Georgia)
• Revival Hydration (San Francisco, California)
• Restore Med Clinic (Newport Beach, California)
• Sage Integrative Medicine Clinic (Edmonds, Washington)
• Tulsa Chiropractic Rehab (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
• Vero Clinics (Decatur, Illinois)

Stem Cell Treatments

• Brexo Bio (La Jolla, California)

Electromagnetic Field Blocking Patches

• Julie E Health (Redondo Beach, California)

Essential Oils

• Cory’s SEOM (Special Essential Oil Mixes) (Escondido, California)

Homeopathic Treatments

• Post Falls Naturopathic Clinic (Post Falls, Idaho)
• Renaissance Heath Centre (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Vitamins, Supplements, Silver, and Chinese Herbal Treatments

• Bixa Human (online only)
• Bodhi Glyphix (Wales Center, New York)
• Cho Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic (Norcross, Georgia)
• Dramov Naturopathic Medical Center (Tigard, Oregon)
• Dr. Don Colbert (Southlake, Texas)
• Evergreen Naturopathic (Spokane, Washington)
• GlyCop Co-op (Boise, Idaho)
• Hawaii Naturopathic Retreat (Hilo, Hawaii)
• Hot Springs Biofeedback (Texarkana, Texas)
• Kimbertouch Technologies (online only)
• Love Acupuncture & Wellness Group (Clackamas, Oregon)
• Natural Health 365 (Clermont, Florida)
• Organic Hawaii, LLC (Honolulu, Hawaii)
• Pure Prescriptions, Inc. (Carlsbad, California)
• The Feed (Boulder, Colorado)
• The Nutritional Healing Center of Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
• Utopia Silver Supplements (Utopia, Texas)

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 FTC within 48 hours about the specific actions they have taken to address the FTC’s concerns.

The FTC’s letters also note that if the false claims do not cease, the FTC may seek a federal court injunction and an order requiring money to be refunded to consumers. In April, the FTC announced its first case against a marketer of such products, Marc Ching, d/b/a Whole Leaf Organics.

Source: Federal Trade Commission – FTC.gov

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.