The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it has sent letters warning 50 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 fifth 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 120 companies and individuals.
The FTC sent the letters to the following supplement and Chinese herbal treatment companies:
• AcuIntegra, Inc. (Clarksville, TN)
• American Chinese Medicine Association Clinic (Aurora, IL)
• Ashland Natural Medicine (Ashland, OR)
• Beatty Acupuncture (Tulsa, OK)
• Biogetica (Culver City, CA)
• Carlin Creative Concepts LLC (Virginia Beach, VA)
• Crescent Moon Herbals, LLC (Philadelphia, PA)
• Dr. Jill Carnahan (Louisville, CO)
• Dr. Adrian Hohenwarter (Palmyra, PA)
• Dr. Alan Christianson (Scottsdale, AZ)
• Dr. Ronald Hoffman (New York, NY)
• Dr. Nuzum’s Neutraceuticals (Meridian, ID)
• Energy Wellness Products (Decatur, IN)
• Hansen Clinic of Natural Medicine (Scottsdale, AZ)
• Health Remedies (Sarasota, FL)
• Herbs Rosalee (Carlton, WA)
• Hunter’s Natural Health (Upper Marlboro, MD)
• Jill’s Home Remedies (Online only)
• Lemus Natural (Miami, FL)
• Lilac Corp. (Rochester, NY)
• Meta-Labs, Inc. (Roswell, GA)
• Mind & Body Acupuncture (Los Angeles, CA)
• Mulberry Leaf Acupuncture and Herbs (Studio City, CA)
• Nature’s Best Relief, Inc. (Littleton, CO)
• Naturopathic European Medical Centre LLC (Stevens Point, WI)
• Nicole Apelian (online only)
• NutrientCures.com (Anchorage, AK)
• OrganyLife (The Colony, TX)
• Plum Dragon Herbs (Chester, MD)
• Puredia (Irvine, CA)
• The Raw Food World (Camarillo, CA)
• The Stern Method (online only)
• Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic (Fort Collins, CO)
• Vidl Wellness (Gloucester, VA)
In the letters, the FTC stated 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.
For more information, visit www.ftc.gov.
