Ebola-C Told to Drop Treatment Claims

A dietary supplement advertised online as a defense against Ebola — as well as a featured item on TMZ Live (!) — has drawn the censure of federal agencies for making unapproved treatment claims for the deadly disease that has ravaged West Africa.

The FTC and FDA write in a joint warning letter to the marketers of Ebola-C:

The marketing and sale of unapproved or uncleared Ebola Virus-related products is a potentially significant threat to the public health. Therefore, FDA is taking urgent measures to protect consumer from products that, without approval or clearance by FDA, claim to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat or cure Ebola Virus in people.

The letter cites the name of the product and the phrase, “DEFEND YOURSELF NOW!!!!! EBOLA-C®,” as examples of the dietary supplement being marketed as a drug, which is illegal without FDA approval.

For more of our coverage on Ebola treatment claims, click here.