The US food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has taken action by warning consumers against 14 companies for selling fake cancer treatment products.
On Tuesday, FDA announced that the 14 companies had violated Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. These companies are selling products without the approval of the FDA. The products could potentially worsen the health condition of patients who take it.
Among these 14 companies is BioStar Organix. The company is reportedly selling more than 65 illegal creams, ointments, pills, and other oil products that it claims is an effective treatment for cancer in pets, as well as humans.
The company also suggests that asparagus is good for the health particularly for heart arrhythmia, and prevents several types of cancer such as breast, cervical, and leukemia even though there is no firm evidence.
Another violator is a company that sells lotion for skin cancer treatment, herbal blends for hepatitis and AIDS, and a pill that can reverse the effects of alcohol on the body.
In the past decades, the FDA has issued 90 warning letters to illegal companies. However, some companies have switched to a new website once they came under the spotlight of the federal, making it a never-ending game.
Douglas W. Stearn, director of the Office of Enforcement and Import Operations in the FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs, warns that consumers should not buy any unproven products because they could be dangerous, especially if the offer is too good to be true.
Stearn also said that people should be vigilant in buying online and avoid purchasing products that suggest treating cancer even if there is no proof that it works. Furthermore, patients must consult a medical health care professional about the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer.
In a warning letter against these 14 companies, the FDA demanded to correct their violations. Here's the full list of the companies that the FDA is cracking down on.