The FDA says products marketed as "35 Percent Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide," can cause serious harm or death when ingested.
The agency recommends that consumers who are currently using high-strength hydrogen peroxide stop immediately and consult their health care provider.
The FDA says in a statement that it is working to stop companies selling high-strength hydrogen peroxide from making illegal medical claims about their products.
These claims are illegal because these products do not have FDA approval and are being sold illegally for medical indications.
The FDA issued Warning Letters to two firms illegally selling "35 percent hydrogen peroxide" products on Web sites for the treatment of AIDS, cancers, emphysema, and other serious and life-threatening diseases.
Dr. Steven Galson, Director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, says, "This concentration is not approved by FDA for any purpose... No one has presented any evidence that hydrogen peroxide taken internally has any medical value. In fact, consuming hydrogen peroxide in the manner touted by these websites could lead to tragic results."
