A permanent injunction and orders for civil penalty judgments have been filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against three distributors of doTERRA supplements for allegedly false claims about COVID-19 made when marketing essential oils and supplements. Three persons, Tina Wong, a pediatrician based in California, Eliza Johnson Bacot, a nurse practitioner based in Georgia, and Lauren Busch, a former registered nurse based in Utah, each agreed to pay $15,000 in civil penalties and to permanent injunctive relief to resolve these allegations. Court filings allege that the defendants were or are distributors for doTERRA International LLC, a multi-level marketing company based in Utah that sells these products. The allegation is that, in public webinars in January 2022, the defendants … [Read more...]
Dr. Rima Recommends Supplement Recalled For Health Claims
Dr. Rima Recommends dietary supplement Nano Silver is being recalled for making unsubstantiated claims about treating COVID-19 illness. The product is labeled as a dietary supplement that, in the opinion of the government, falsely states that it will prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19. Consumers who use this product instead of seeking actual medical advice and treatment run the risk of serious, life-threatening consequences. The recalling firm is Natural Solutions Foundation. The recalled product is Dr. Rima Recommends Nano Silver 10 PPM. There is no information about package size, how much of this product was sold, or any UPC numbers, lot numbers, or best by dates. The time was sold nationwide at the consumer level from January 22, 2020 to December 27, 2021. The U.S. Food and Drug … [Read more...]
Warning Letter to FluxxLab For Unapproved COVID Treatments
The FDA has sent a warning letter to FluxxLab LLC because th company is allegedly selling COVID-19 treatments that have no proof of efficacy. The letter states, "The FDA has observed that your website offers the Covid-19 Immune Support Tincture and the CBDA+CBD Oil Tincture products for sale in the United States and that these products are intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 in people. Based on our review, these products are unapproved new drugs sold in violation of section 505(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), 21 U.S.C. § 355(a). "Furthermore, these products are misbranded drugs under section 502 of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 352. The introduction or delivery for introduction of these products into interstate commerce is … [Read more...]
Justice Department Targets Deceptive Marketing of COVID 19 Herbal Teas
The U.S. Justice Department is targeting deceptive marketing practices of herbal tea products that are advertised as COVID 19 treatments. B4B Earth Tea LLC allegedly violated the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, the FTC Act, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) according to the complaint. A complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The defendants allegedly advertised that their herbal tea product, Earth Tea, could prevent or treat COVID 19, without competent or reliable scientific evidence to support these claims. In addition, the defendants allegedly made deceptive statements about a scientific study to support their unproven claims. The complaint also alleges that Earth Tea is an unapproved new drug that the defendants … [Read more...]
Natural Solutions Foundation Must Stop Distributing COVID Treatment
A federal court permanently enjoined Natural Solutions Foundation, a New Jersey entity, and its principals from distributing unapproved and misbranded drugs that were marketed as a treatment for COVID-19. The company was distributing a "nano silver" product that they claimed would prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19. The enforcement action was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Brianna M. Gardner of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, with assistance from Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement Jaclyn Martínez Resly of the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel. The complaint was filed at the request of the FDA, and states that nano silver is not generally recognized by qualified experts as safe and effective to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19, and that these claims are not supported by … [Read more...]
Complaint Against Wellness Warrior For COVID-19 Consumer Act Violations
The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have filed a civil consumer complaint against Wellness Warrior for alleged violations of the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act. This is the first enforcement action that alleges violations of this Act. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. According to the complaint, the defendants advertised that their vitamin D and zinc nutritional supplements could "prevent or treat COVID-19." There is no reliable or competent scientific evidence to support these claims, according to the complaint. And the defendants allegedly advertised that their supplements were "equally or more effective therapies for COVID-19 than the currently available vaccines." The government is claiming … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Earth Tea Against False Statements About COVID-19
The FDA has sent a warning letter to B4B Corporation, makers of Earth Tea, against false statements regarding the treatment and cure of COVID-19. The FDA says that the company is offering the product for sale and that it is intended to "mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 in people." That makes the product and unapproved new drug in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and also makes the product a misbranded drug under section 502 of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 352. Some examples of claims on the company's website that misleading represent the product as safe and/or effective for the treatment and prevention of the viral illness include, "Earth Tea works fast so it can eliminate quarantine time. With those simple steps we can move to end the … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Mercola Over Products Claiming to Treat and Cure COVID-19
The FDA has sent a warning letter to Mercola.com about their products being marketed as diagnostic tools, treatment options, and cures for COVID-19. The letter, dated February 18, 2021, addresses "Unapproved and Misbranded Products Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019." The company's websites and social media accounts promote these products which are considered unapproved new drugs sold in violation of the FDA's Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The FDA is taking urgent measures to protect consumers that, without approval or authorization by that agency, claim to "mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 in people." The government states that Mercola must take immediate action to cease the sale of these unapproved and unauthorized products. Some of the claims on the … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Is Not Transmitted Through Food or Food Packaging
Acting USDA Secretary Kevin Shea and Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. have released a statement confirming that COVID-19 is not transmitted through food or food packaging. Back in September 2020, the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF) released an opinion paper stating the same result. At that time, ICMSF, "Despite the billions of meals and food packages handled since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, to date there has not been any evidence that food, food packaging or food handling is a source or important transmission route for SARS-CoV-2 resulting in COVID-19." When the pandemic first started picking up steam about a year ago, many were concerned about products shipped from China, as well as the possibility of the virus … [Read more...]
Fusion Health Is Ordered to Stop Selling Covid-19 Vitamin D Treatments
Fusion Health is ordered to stop selling Covid-19 Vitamin D products by the U.S. Department of Justice,. Two other companies also owned by Matthew Ryncarz, Vitality LLC doing business as Pharm Origins, and Fusion Ionz LLC doing business as Pharm Origins, are included in the complaint. These companies allegedly sold and distributed products that the defendants claimed would "cure, mitigate, or treat COVID-19 and other diseases." Several products were sold that supposedly contained Vitamin D3, such as "Immune Shot," "Immune Boost," and "Core." None of these products are generally recognized as safe and effective by qualified experts, according to the complaint. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel J. Feith said in a statement, "The Department of Justice will not allow … [Read more...]
