The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced that it had sent warning letters to ten additional companies for making claims that their products could treat or prevent coronavirus, which included 1) Bioenergy Wellness Miami, 2) Face Vital LLC, 3) LightAir International AB, 4) MedQuick Labs LLC, 5) New Performance Nutrition, 6) PuraTHRIVE LLC, 7) Resurgence Medical Spa, LLC, 8) Rocky Mountain IV Medics, 9) Suki Distribution Pte. Ltd., and 10) Vita Activate.
The advertisements in question included ones for a “Corona Virus Immune System Boost COVID-19,” which was developed by the “Man Who Cured Cancer” and apparently used sound frequencies to “penetrate cells ‘thousands of times more than chemical information,'” and the “Face Vital Sonic Silicone Facial Brush” which could “fight off Coronavirus” by “Ramping Up [the user’s] Beauty and Cleansing Regimen.”
The FTC warned the companies that their coronavirus claims were unsubstantiated by scientific evidence and demanded that the recipients immediately cease making all claims that their products can treat or cure coronavirus.
As covered by this blog, this is merely the latest set of letters the FTC (often partnering with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has sent out warning companies about making unsubstantiated coronavirus-related claims. The FTC has now sent out more than 25 such letters since early March; a full list can be found here.
The FTC has clearly made coronavirus claims a focus of its enforcement actions, with its Director of its Bureau of Consumer Protection stating it was “shameful to take advantage of people by claiming that a product prevents, treats, or cures COVID-19,” and that “anyone who makes [those claims] simply has no proof and is likely just after your money.” Any company thinking of making corona-virus related claims about its products should be extremely cautious and make sure it can scientifically substantiate those claims, as the FTC is scrutinizing any such claims closely.