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FDA Cracks Down on Swine Flu Snake Oil

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 8, 2009 1:05 PM CDT

(Newser) – The hysteria over the swine flu pandemic has spawned its share of magic cures, and health authorities are busy combating the snake oil salesmen, the Financial Times reports. Nearly half of the warning letters sent by the FDA to manufacturers and retailers since May have been issued to those hawking products that purportedly combat the H1N1 threat. “Not only are these claims illegal but we also consider them a potentially significant threat to public health,” the FDA says.

The products “may create a false sense of security and possibly prevent people from seeking proper medical help,” an FDA official says. Manufacturers have been put on warning for selling, among other things, a “swine flu H1N1 nutritional support kit” complete with anti-flu “Free Radical Quenchers"; a shampoo that claims to stop the virus from invading hair; and a “photon genie” whose “life-nourishing photobiotic energy” strengthens the immune system.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

A nurse wears a face mask during a protest at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center to urge hospitals to protect workers from the swine flu. (AP Photo)

A worker during a production dry run at Sanofi Pasteur in Swiftwater, Pa., where influenza vaccine is produced. (AP Photo)

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If the rate of infection increases in the fall, then we can expect promotions to come back and we will be watching. - Gary Coody, national health fraud co-ordinator at the FDA

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COMMENTS

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kokuaguy

Aug 8, 2009 7:00 AM CDT

Actually, on this page you find out about Obama's plan to destroy democracy from www.righttoworkfoundation.org. Another Newsmax.com clone no doubt. You won't have to go far to find the other porpaganda site.

kokuaguy

Aug 8, 2009 6:56 AM CDT

Speaking of living off the fear of others ... there is a far right group with a website known as newsmax.com that is effectively promoting misinformation on this very NEWSER page (and all others newser pages.) It shows the President in a blue health worker's cap, and It asks if you "support Obama's Healthcare Plan." It invites you to take a poll which contains very misleading questions. I took it and answered every question opposite to the way I know this group would have me answer it. You can only supbmit it if you give them an email address where they say the results will be sent.

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Financial Times (UK) (Source Grid »)

Health • Crime & Courts • US

FDA • United States • false advertising • Food and Drug Administration • pandemic • swine flu • H1N1 virus • snake oil

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