FTC, FDA Send More Warning Letters Marketers Over Unsubstantiated COVID-19 Claims

The FTC and FDA continue to issue warning letters, both separately and jointly, to companies allegedly engaged in false or deceptive marketing of their products. Recent warning letters include:

• The FTC’s sixth set of warning letters, warning an additional 35 marketers to stop making unsubstantiated claims that their products and therapies can treat or prevent COVID-19, which mainly target companies offering treatments – such as intravenous infusions, stem cell therapy, and vitamin injections – provided by clinics or in medical offices;
• The FTC’s six warning letters to multi-level marketing companies Isagenix International LLC, The Juice Plus+ Company, Melaleuca, Inc., Youngevity International, Inc., Vivri USA, LLC, and Plexus Worldwide, LLC regarding claims about their products’ ability to treat or prevent coronavirus and/or about potential earnings for consumers who recently lost income due the virus;
• The FDA’s warning letters issued to four websites (roidsmall.net, emedkit.com, 4nrx.md, chloroquineonline.com) for marketing unapproved and misbranded COVID-19-related products; and
• The FTC and FDA’s joint warning letter to roidsmall.net for making unsubstantiated claims and marketing unapproved and misbranded products.

The regulators require the recipient of a warning letter to respond to the relevant regulator within 48 hours to describe the specific actions taken to address the concerns outlined in the letter. In addition, the letters notify recipients that failure to comply could result in legal action.

View the press release