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Consumer Agency Trashes Trudeau's "Natural Cures" Book

August 8, 2005

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The New York State Consumer Protection Board is warning consumers that a fast-selling book by Kevin Trudeau does not contain the "natural cures" for cancer and other diseases that Trudeau is promising in a nationwide television ad campaign.

The board says Trudeau is not only misrepresenting the contents of his self-published book, he is also using false endorsements to encourage consumers to buy 'Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About.'

'This book is exploiting and misleading people who are searching for cures to serious illnesses,' said CPB Chairman Teresa A. Santiago. 'What they discover is page after page after page of pure speculation -- not the cures for cancer and other diseases that are promised.'

These false endorsements extend to Trudeau's television infomercials, Santiago said, citing in particular the infomercial featuring the former Tammy Faye Bakker (now Messner). She appears in Trudeau's infomercial because she is suffering from a recurrence of cancer.

The ad gives the false impression that Messner opposes chemotherapy in favor of the 'natural cures' in Trudeau's book. A representative for Messner said that is not true and that she is starting chemotherapy again.

'We're asking Mr. Trudeau to pull this ad -- not only because of the misleading 'endorsement' by Tammy Faye -- but also because Mr. Trudeau advertises so-called 'cures' that are not even mentioned in his book,' said Santiago. In his infomercial with Messner, Trudeau cites only one specific cancer 'cure' -- a 'serum' allegedly invented by a New York City zoologist in the 1960's.

'As unbelievable as it seems, the key to stopping many cancers has been around for over 30 years,' Trudeau said before claiming the government banned this serum. Although he mentions this anecdote in his television ad, there is nothing about this in his book, Santiago noted.

Consumers in across the country are complaining that the book is just another commercial for Trudeau's website and monthly newsletters. Throughout the book, readers are told that the cures they are looking for, in many cases, are available if they spend more money and subscribe to Trudeau's newsletter or his website. Both cost $71.40 per year or $499 for a 'lifetime membership.'

'This is not a matter of 'free speech' as Mr. Trudeau claims: if you advertise the contents of a book, it had better contain what has been promised,' said Santiago.

On the back jacket, Trudeau begins a list of endorsements with a quotation from Dr. Herbert Ley, a former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But Ley never endorsed or even read Trudeau's book because he died on July 22, 2001.

The book also has a quotation from Dr. My Haley, widow of 'Roots' author, Alex Haley. Dr. Haley said her quotation (''it would be hard these days to find a better read') was not meant to be an endorsement of the book's health claims. Instead, Dr. Haley said she was only suggesting that the book was 'an exciting read.'

'The hypocrisy surrounding this book and its advertisements is galling because people with real illnesses are being misled,' said Santiago. 'This book and its marketing machine are a cynical attempt by Mr. Trudeau to cash in on his legal troubles with the federal government.'

Last year, Trudeau agreed to pay $2 million and to stop marketing 'coral calcium' as a cure for cancer to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ('FTC').

The FTC sued Trudeau largely on the grounds that Trudeau could not substantiate his advertising claim that coral calcium can cure and prevent cancer. It is one of at least 10 products that Trudeau has sold or promoted before the government has leveled fraud charges.

In addition, Trudeau pleaded guilty in 1990 to larceny in a Cambridge, Mass., state court after being charged with depositing $80,000 in worthless checks. The following year, he also pleaded guilty to credit card fraud in federal district court in Boston, resulting in prison term of nearly two years. The federal charges involved the use of credit-card numbers from customers of a memory-improvement course Trudeau was promoting at that time.

'Trudeau cannot hide behind his frequent claims that this book simply contains his opinions and that the government is trying to censor him,' said Santiago. 'Throughout the book, Trudeau tries to fool readers into thinking he knows the cure for specific diseases when all Trudeau really offers are different theories on what causes an illness or a disease.'

Another example, she said, is Trudeau's June 2005 newsletter, which carries the headline: 'The Natural Way to Cure Cancer.' In that newsletter, Trudeau wrote, 'The cure for cancer is: simply stop doing the things that are causing the cancer!'

Among Trudeau's recommendations and 'opinions' are:

• Breast milk has been poisoned by exhaust fumes from jets (p. 80)

• People should not use antiperspirant or deodorant (page 135);

• 'All tap water is poisonous' (page 144)

• Microwave cooking poisons food --and causes cancer (page 145)

• Baby food is 'poisonous;' (page 145);

• 'Vaccines are some of the most toxic things you can put into your body' (page 131. Despite that statement, Trudeau's newsletter praises Jonas Salk and his vaccine for curing polio);

• Avoid hot tubs, saunas and swimming pools (page 155);

• Wear white ('The closer you get to white, the more positive energy you bring into your energetic field.' Page 167)

• Driving in traffic causes stress and stress causes cancer;

• Sunscreens cause cancer (page 152);

• Eat only organic food and 'do not eat any food produced or sold by a publicly traded (page 142); and,

• Don't take prescription or non-prescription drugs (This recommendation is cited throughout the book. Trudeau's website, however, recommends that drugs be used to cure TB and Parkinson's. In one commercial, Trudeau concedes that drugs and surgery are necessary when an illness is too advanced.)

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