The FTC on Wednesday announced the charges against the five and also said it had reached settlements with six others. The FTC joins the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on this campaign for consumer education that warns about bogus claims for cures.
The settlements, which bar the companies from using such claims in the future, have also included some restitution, relative to the profits made by the various-sized companies. The largest company will pay about $250,000 in restitution under the settlement, according to FTC.
The products marketed by the companies include herbal teas containing a jungle vine from Latin America, saltwater blue-green algae and various other ingredients. Another company marketed a cancer cure made from apricot seeds, coral calcium, digestive enzymes and other unusual materials.
FTC says there's "no credible scientific evidence" that any of the products can "prevent, cure, or treat cancer of any kind." The FDA is concerned that people may skip effective cancer treatments when choosing these products
According to a statement released by the FTC, all 11 companies will be required to notify consumers that there is "little to no scientific evidence demonstrating the products' effectiveness for treating or curing cancer." They also must urge these customers to consult with their doctors about the products, the statement added.
