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https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/11/ftc-squashes-company-claims-dietary-supplements-treat-or-prevent-covid-19

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FTC squashes company claims that dietary supplements treat or prevent COVID-19

By
Colleen Tressler
Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC
November 22, 2022

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There are no supplements proven to treat or prevent COVID-19

In the FTC’s latest case targeting fake COVID-19 claims, the agency took action against Margrett Priest Lewis and the company she founded and manages, Precision Patient Outcomes, Inc. (PPO). Lewis and PPO claimed their dietary supplements, branded as COVID Resist and VIRUS Resist, could treat, prevent, or mitigate COVID-19, and that scientific evidence supported their claims. But the complaint says Lewis and PPO don’t have scientific evidence to back up their treatment, prevention, or mitigation claims.

There are no supplements proven to treat or prevent COVID-19.

When it comes to fighting COVID-19 and spotting unsupported treatment claims:

    Always talk with your doctor or healthcare professional before you try any product claiming to treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19.
    When there’s a medical breakthrough to treat, prevent, or cure a disease, you’re not going to hear about it for the first time through an ad or sales pitch on social media.
    Visit CDC.gov and the FDA.gov for the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and available vaccines.

Now, please share what you know, and ask others to do the same.

    Learn more about COVID-related scams at ftc.gov/coronavirus
    Sign up for consumer alerts at ftc.gov/consumeralerts
    Tell us about scams you’re seeing at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Topics
Shopping and Donating
Health
Scams
COVID-19 Scams
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https://consumer.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/styles/scaled_lg/public/consumer_ftc_gov/images/covid-cure-1200x630_0.png?itok=v_F1JbGv

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https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/11/ftc-acts-stop-deceptive-covid-19-advertising-claims-californias-precision-patient-outcomes-inc-0

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Home News and Events News Press Releases
For Release

FTC Acts to Stop Deceptive COVID-19 Advertising Claims by California’s Precision Patient Outcomes, Inc.
Case is part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to combat COVID-related fraud
November 22, 2022

 Consumer Protection Bureau of Consumer Protection Western Region San Francisco Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advertising and Marketing

The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against California-based Precision Patient Outcomes, Inc. and the company’s CEO Margrett Priest Lewis for marketing an over-the-counter dietary supplement containing nothing more than vitamins, zinc, and a flavonoid as an effective treatment to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

“The FTC will halt baseless claims about COVID-19 treatments that harm consumers’ pocketbooks and health,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “We don’t simply seek to stop this kind of fraud, but to permanently prohibit companies and company owners engaging in misconduct from endangering the health and well-being of American consumers.”

In its complaint, the FTC is seeking to permanently stop the company and its CEO from using deceptive treatment or prevention claims with no supporting scientific evidence to sell their dietary supplement. The FTC alleges that these practices violate the FTC Act and the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act. The latter allows the Commission to seek civil penalties in cases of COVID-related consumer fraud.
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https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/styles/scaled_sm/public/ftc_gov/images/COVIDresist_Virusresist.jpg?itok=Gdytcful

COVID Resist and Virus Resist bottles
Images of COVID Resist (left) and Virus Resist bottles

Precision Patient Outcomes, based in Berkeley, California, developed, labeled, advertised, marketed, distributed, and sold a supplement under the names COVID Resist and VIRUS Resist, to consumers nationwide during the COVID pandemic. According to the FTC’s complaint, in May 2021 the defendants began advertising and marketing COVID Resist on the company’s website and social media pages with deceptive claims that the product can treat, prevent, or mitigate COVID-19.

Lewis, the company’s co-founder and CEO, formulated the product and is in direct control of Precision Patient Outcomes’ business operations. Among other things, she has been actively involved in promoting COVID Resist and VIRUS Resist using the company’s website; through posts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok; and on her personal social media accounts.

Despite knowing about the Commission’s enforcement action under the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act against a company making similar claims about the science and efficacy of its products, the defendants only changed the name of the product from COVID Resist to VIRUS Resist and continued to deceptively advertise it as an effective treatment for COVID-19.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 4-1, with Commissioner Christine S. Wilson dissenting. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.

Press Release Reference
In First Action Under COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, FTC Seeks Monetary Penalties for Deceptive Marketing of Purported Coronavirus Treatments

Contact Information
Media Contact
Mitchell J. Katz
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2161
Staff Contact
Abdiel T. Lewis
FTC’s Western Region San Francisco
415-848-5118

Blog: FTC squashes company claims that dietary supplements treat or prevent COVID-19 For Businesses
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