FDA exposes advertising tricks of 'cancer-curing' dietary supplements

The US FDA has warned 14 companies to stop making advertisements for herbal products and other treatments marketed to treat or prevent cancer.

Taking advantage of patients' fears

Consumer safety expert Nicole Kornspan says companies are preying on scared cancer patients and their loved ones. And it's making money. Americans spend $30 billion a year on alternative therapies.

"Anyone who has had cancer, or has a loved one with cancer, understands the fear and despair it brings. People will reach for anything that seems to offer a chance of a cure."

They particularly exploit the tendency to believe that “natural” treatments are better than those made by commercial pharmaceutical companies. But those products are not only a waste of money, but may also contain harmful ingredients.

For example, “Everything Herbs” advertises apricot seeds, which contain the deadly poison cyanide. Apricot seeds were the basis for the development of laetrile, an unproven “alternative” cancer therapy that has been widely sold online in clinics overseas since the 1970s despite overwhelming evidence that it is worthless.

The "Everything Herbs" website claims: "If you eat 6-12 apricot seeds every day, you will never have to worry about cancer. Contained in these apricot seeds is a small amount of nitriloside amygdalin, which goes directly to the cancer cells, injects and kills the cancer cells."

The website was taken down under the pretext of “repair” when NBC News investigated, and calls to the company's phone number returned a voicemail saying the entire company was on vacation.

Another site, DoctorVicks.com, sells a variety of herbs and supplements, including silymarin, also known as milk thistle.

"Silimarin, the main component of milk thistle, has been shown to support the liver in miraculous ways and may help repair liver damage caused by alcohol or Tylenol, and protect the liver from future damage," the website claims.

There is a substance that can help reverse the damage caused by Tylenol—N-acetylcysteine ​​​​(NAC)—but it must be taken immediately and under a doctor's direction. Some studies suggest that silymarin may be helpful, but it is not approved and the dosage has not been determined.

Dr. Vicks did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News.

Sophisticated advertising tricks

The FDA has warned 14 companies for falsely advertising products that “cure” cancer.

None of these claims are true, the FDA said. The agency warned 14 companies to stop making advertisements for herbal products and other treatments marketed to treat or prevent cancer. These products do not work as advertised, and some may be dangerous.

“These companies used clever advertisements, videos, and other sophisticated marketing techniques, including reviews claiming miraculous results,” FDA experts wrote.

"Often a product is advertised as a treatment or cure for many diseases in humans and animals."

The FDA listed 14 companies on its website and detailed the misleading claims they made about their products, which included herbs, liquids, dietary supplements, teas, and topicals. The claims ranged from curing cancer to “detoxifying” the liver.

It is illegal to make such claims without demonstrating that they are true and without going through the FDA verification process. Placing a small line at the bottom of an advertisement stating that the FDA has not verified the claim does not mitigate the violation.

To get around the law, some companies make false advertisements and include a small print stating that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

“It may be smart to state clear words and then say they are not, but it does not comply with federal laws intended to protect public health.”

The FDA has given companies 15 days to come up with plans to comply with its request. The agency can prosecute and fine companies and even impose prison sentences.

"The message to consumers is: These products have not been tested, some contain ingredients that can pose a direct risk to the health of users.

“These ingredients can interact dangerously with conventional treatments. They are not a substitute for proper treatment. Using these products can be a waste of money and, more importantly, can put your health at risk,” the FDA statement said.

Below is a list of 14 companies and foods the FDA is warning about.

According to Dantri