The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told 14 U.S.-based companies to stop making false statements about products claiming to treat cancer.
The products include creams, pills, ointments, syrups, teas and diagnostic devices that falsely claim to cure, prevent,or diagnose cancer, the FDA said in a release posted on the American Cancer Society's website.
The FDA warned the companies to change or remove the fraudulent claims on their websites or they could face legal action, the release said.
“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,” Douglas Stearn, director of the Office of Enforcement and Import Operations in the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs, said in the release. “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."
Phrases such as “treats all forms of cancers, miraculously kills cancer cells and tumors, and shrinks malignant tumors,” are all phrases the FDA says companies use to lure customers to buy the products.
