It would be great if you could buy an over-the-counter drug online that would cure cancer, but it's not quite that simple, despite the claims of some unscrupulous companies.
Fourteen such businesses are getting letters today from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning them that they are illegally selling more than 65 products that fraudulently claim to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure cancer.
The products are marketed and sold without FDA approval, most commonly on websites and social media platforms.
“Consumers should not use these or similar unproven products because they may be unsafe and could prevent a person from seeking an appropriate and potentially life-saving cancer diagnosis or treatment,” said Douglas W. Stearn, director of the Office of Enforcement and Import Operations in the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs.
“We encourage people to remain vigilant whether online or in a store, and avoid purchasing products marketed to treat cancer without any proof they will work. Patients should consult a health care professional about proper prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.”
It's illegal to sell any product that claims to prevent, diagnose, treat, mitigate, or cure diseases without first demonstrating to the FDA that the products are safe and effective for their labeled uses.
The illegally sold products cited in the warning letters posted today include a variety of product types, such as pills, topical creams, ointments, oils, drops, syrups, teas, and diagnostics (such as thermography devices). They include products marketed for use by humans or pets that make illegal, unproven claims regarding preventing, reversing, or curing cancer; killing/inhibiting cancer cells or tumors; or other similar anti-cancer claims.
The FDA has requested responses from the 14 companies stating how the violations will be corrected. Failure to correct the violations promptly may result in legal action, including product seizure, injunction and/or criminal prosecution.
The companies receiving the warning letters and their products are:
| Amazing Sour Sop, Inc. | Sour Sop Leaves | |
| BioStar Technology International LLC | ||
| Caudill Seed & Warehouse Inc. | Vitalica | |
| DoctorVicks.com | Freeda Vitamins – Garlic 400 mg Freeda Vitamins – Quercetin 50 mg, Freeda Vitamins – Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 50 mg Maxi Health – Livamax with Milk Thistle , Maxi Health – Maxi Omega-3 2000, Maxi Health – Triple Maxi Omega-3 Concentrate with D3 2000IU, and Maxi Health – Maxi Resveratrol – Kosher Heart & Memory Formula | |
| Everything Herbs | Cleavers, Inkberry, Korean Ginseng Lapacho and Whole Apricot | |
| Hawk Dok Natural Salve, LLC | and Smokeless Tobacco Cancer Treatment for Gums, and Lip Sores | |
| Healing Within Products & Services, Inc. | Astragalus Glycerite, Black Salve, Healthy Prostate & Ovary, Original Herbal Tea Remedy, ProBoost Thymic Protein A and Siberian Chaga Mushroom Extract | |
| LifeVantage Corporation |
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| Nature's Treasure, Inc. | Colostrum LD® Capsules, Dysbiocide, and Matcha Tea | |
| Oxygen Health Systems, LLC | Graviola, Graviola Max, Liposomal Complete Complex Plus, Liposomal Curcumin, Liposomal Vitamin B17 Amygdalin, Liposomal Vitamin C Palladium Lipoic Complex, Premium Flax, Rerum Blue and Super Liposomal Plus | |
| Sunstone, Inc. | Chelated Boron, Circulatory Detox & Support Syrup, Essiac Tea Fermented Yeast Culture, Premium Organic, 8 oz., Virxcan-X Salve
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| The Vibrant Health Store, LLC dba Dr. Christopher's Herbs | Black Drawing Ointment, Burdock Root Kid-e-Trac, Liver D-Tox Formula, Rash Ointment, Red Clover Blossoms, Relax-Eze , and St. John’s Wort | |
| The Vitamin C Foundation | Cardio-C, Chewables Vitamin C, Sodium Ascorbate, True Liposomal Vitamin C and World’s Finest Vitamin C Powder | |
| Online Advisory Letters | ||
| CellMark Biopharma LLC | CellAssure | |
| Landis Revin, LLC | Trevinol ES Fibrin Defense Systemic Enzyme, Trevinol ES Health Joint & Inflammation Support, Trevinol Professional Blend | |
| Nathans Natural | Levodyn | |
| www.healinginabottle.com | Immuno Boost Eximius | |