乌鸦传媒

Among a was one , a controversial alternative medicine physician, for improperly marketing COVID-19 treatments.

The agency told Mercola that three products he markets with COVID-19 claims -- "Liposomal Vitamin C, Liposomal Vitamin D3, and Quercetin and Pterostilbene Advanced" -- are "unapproved new drugs" and "misbranded drugs" being sold in violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

FDA asked Mercola to "take immediate action to cease the sale of such unapproved and unauthorized products" and said he must reply within 48 hours as to specific steps that will be taken to address the violation. "Failure to adequately correct any violations may result in legal action, including, without limitations, seizure and injunction," the agency wrote.

In a statement to 乌鸦传媒, Mercola's media team said the physician has published papers on the link between vitamin D deficiency and severe COVID, and that he is "committed to providing truthful information and having a rigorous scientific debate."

"We have fully addressed the warning letter and put FDA on notice that it cannot stop speech it does not like," the statement said.

The letter to Mercola was among nearly 80 the FDA has posted since Feb. 1. Many are about products the agency said were illegally marketed in relation to COVID-19.

Late Thursday, for example, the FDA announced that it had selling thermal imaging devices to detect fevers in multiple people at once.

Mercola's letter -- dated Feb. 18 but only posted on March 4 -- gives several examples of the improper promotion and claims regarding these products for COVID-19, including that states, "Vitamins C and D are finally being adopted in the conventional treatment of novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. This fortunate turn of events is likely to save thousands of lives, while keeping health care costs down."

It also points out several pages on Mercola's websites displaying claims such as vitamin C is a "vastly underused antiviral drug" and that vitamin C and quercetin "have synergistic effects that make them useful in the prevention and early at-home treatment of COVID-19."

Peter Lurie, MD, MPH, president of the Centers for Science in the Public Interest, said in a statement that his organization pointed out Mercola's inappropriate claims to regulators back in July 2020.

"Because Mercola's companies have been the subject of prior FDA warnings against as well as a Federal Trade Commission settlement prohibiting Mercola from would 'slash your risk of cancer,' we urge federal authorities to vigorously monitor Mercola.com and his other related sites, such as , to ensure his compliance," Lurie stated.

"We also urge state attorneys general to investigate how they may further protect consumers from Mercola's illegal marketing, should it continue," he added.

FDA keeps a that have received warning letters about problematic COVID-19 products. Mercola's operation now appears on that list.

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