mdi ConsultantsFDA Update – COVID-19 – FDA Continues to Combat Fraudulent COVID-19 Medical Products
No Surprise here – the FDA needs to make use of their Investigators who are locked in their homes. They are scanning the internet for Fraudulent Advertising concerning the COVID -19.
At the end of the first week in May, FDA provided an update on the agency’s efforts to combat the actions by companies and individuals that are exploiting the widespread fear among consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. FDA continues to take a number of steps to find and stop those selling unapproved products that untruthfully claim to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose or cure COVID-19.
As of May 7, 2020, the FDA has issued 42 warning letters to companies making false COVID-19 claims. One of which was to a seller of fraudulent chlorine dioxide products, which is the equivalent to industrial bleach. This product was referred to as “Miracle Mineral Solution” or “MMS” as a treatment for COVID-19. After the seller refused to take action, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction requiring the seller to immediately stop distributing its unproven and potentially dangerous product.
In a few short weeks, the FDA has discovered hundreds of products including fraudulent drugs, testing kits personal protective equipment sold online with falsified claims. The agency continues to work with online marketplaces, domain name registrars, payment processors and social media websites to remove products from their platforms that falsely claim to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 and to keep these products from reappearing under different names. The FDA will continue to monitor online platforms for fraudulent products marketed to seek profit from this public health crisis.
Additionally, the FDA will continue to carry out the agency’s mission of protecting the health and safety of American consumers and strive to prevent unlawful FDA-regulated products from entering, or being distributed in, domestic commerce. The agency encourages anyone aware of suspected fraudulent medical products for COVID-19 to report them to the FDA by emailing [email protected].
Based on the email requests we have been receiving on various devices to be used for either treating, preventing or monitoring this VIRUS it does not surprise us to see these warning letters. What does surprise us is that there isn’t MORE.
If there are any questions regarding this update from the FDA on fraudulent products, please feel free to email mdi at [email protected] RE: COVID19.