The unapproved products are often advertised as ‘natural’ and labeled as supplements
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday posted warning letters to 14 companies that are illegally selling more than 65 unproven cancer treatments.
The products include pills, capsules, powders, creams, teas, oils, and treatment and diagnostic kits. They’re most commonly marketed and sold without FDA approval on websites and social media platforms, the FDA announcement of its action said. The treatments are frequently advertised as “natural” and often falsely labeled as dietary supplements, the agency added.
“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 lifesaving 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 a news 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.”
The FDA has issued more than 90 warning letters in the past 10 years to companies marketing hundreds of fraudulent products making cancer claims on websites, through social media, and in stores, the news release noted.
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