The Federal Trade Commission announced on Thursday it sent letters to 50 marketers nationwide telling them to stop making unsubstantiated claims that their products can treat or prevent COVID-19.
The warning is the fifth of its kind announced by FTC in an ongoing effort to protect consumers from health-related scams. In total, FTC says its sent similar warnings to more than 120 companies and individuals.
According to a press release, two local companies were among the 50 warnings. Health Remedies in Sarasota was warned for marketing supplements, and iMRS2000 and Bryant Meyers in Bradenton for pulsed electromagnetic field therapy.
According to FTC, Some of the therapies or products being marketed include Chinese herbal medications, music therapy, ozone therapy and shields claimed to boost the immune system by protecting the wearer from electromagnetic fields.
"However, currently there is no scientific evidence that these, or any, products or services can treat or cure COVID-19," FTC said in a press release.
In the letters, FTC warns that if the false claims don't stop, the Commission could get a federal court injunction and an order forcing the companies to refund money to customers.
Full list of companies or individuals who received letters:
Supplements and Chinese Herbal Treatments:
- AcuIntegra, Inc. (Clarksville, Tennessee)
- American Chinese Medicine Association Clinic (Aurora, Illinois)
- Ashland Natural Medicine (Ashland, Oregon)
- Beatty Acupuncture (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
- Biogetica (Culver City, California)
- Carlin Creative Concepts LLC (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
- Crescent Moon Herbals, LLC (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Dr. Jill Carnahan (Louisville, Colorado)
- Dr. Adrian Hohenwarter (Palmyra, Pennsylvania)
- Dr. Alan Christianson (Scottsdale, Arizona)
- Dr. Ronald Hoffman (New York, New York)
- Dr. Nuzum’s Neutraceuticals (Meridian, Idaho)
- Energy Wellness Products (Decatur, Indiana)
- Hansen Clinic of Natural Medicine (Scottsdale, Arizona)
- Health Remedies (Sarasota, Florida)
- Herbs Rosalee (Carlton, Washington)
- Hunter’s Natural Health (Upper Marlboro, Maryland)
- Jill’s Home Remedies (Online only)
- Lemus Natural (Miami, Florida)
- Lilac Corp. (Rochester, New York)
- Meta-Labs, Inc. (Roswell, Georgia)
- Mind & Body Acupuncture (Los Angeles, California)
- Mulberry Leaf Acupuncture and Herbs (Studio City, California)
- Nature’s Best Relief, Inc. (Littleton, Colorado)
- Naturopathic European Medical Centre LLC (Stevens Point, Wisconsin)
- Nicole Apelian (online only)
- NutrientCures.com (Anchorage, Alaska)
- OrganyLife (The Colony, Texas)
- Plum Dragon Herbs (Chester, Maryland)
- Puredia (Irvine, California)
- The Raw Food World (Camarillo, California)
- The Stern Method (online only)
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic (Fort Collins, Colorado)
- Vidl Wellness (Gloucester, Virginia)
Acupuncture:
- Acupuncture Healing Center (Chicago, Illinois)
- Art of Wellness Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Healing (Los Angeles, California)
Homeopathic Treatments:
- Dr. Dale’s Wellness Center (Oxnard, California)
- Naturopathic Health Care (Enfield, Connecticut)
- Premilife (Israel) (Tel Aviv, Israel)
- Viva Healthy Life-Philadelphia Holistic/Homeopathic Clinic (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Nebulizers:
- Gordon Medical (San Rafael, California)
- StuphCorp (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Ozone and Intravenous (IV) Therapies/Hydrotherapy:
- Dr. Brownstein's Holistic Medicine/The Center for Holistic Medicine (West Bloomfield, Michigan)
- Feelin 02 Good (Riverhead, New York)
- Holgistic Personalized Healthcare/Natural Care Institute (Royal Oak, Michigan)
- iCRYO (Houston, Texas)
- LotusRain Naturopathic Clinic (San Diego, California)
- Vital Source Natural Medicine (Bellingham, Washington)
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy and Scalar Frequencies:
- iMRS2000 and Bryant Meyers (Bradenton, Florida)
- Spooky2Scalar (Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China)