The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones: Stop hawking products that are falsely advertised as coronavirus treatments.
In a letter dated April 9, the agency cited a number of examples where the InfoWars founder made unproven claims about products sold on his website; these included the Super Silver Toothpaste, the Superblue Silver Immune Gargle, and the SuperSilver Wound Dressing Gel, all of which were said to treat or prevent coronavirus infections. The FDA informed Jones that the branding of these products were in violation of the law, as they have not been approved by the agency.
"We request that you take immediate action to cease the sale of such unapproved and unauthorized products for the mitigation, prevention, treatment, diagnosis, or cure of COVID-19 in people ..." the letter read. "You should take immediate action to correct the violations cited in this letter ... We advise you to review your websites, product labels, and other labeling and promotional materials to ensure that you are not misleadingly representing your products as safe and effective for a COVID-19 related use for which they have not been approved by FDA and that you do not make claims that misbrand the products in violation of the FD&C Act."
According to the letter, Jones had posted a number of videos in February and March, claiming some of the products were effective in boosting the immune system and "taking out viruses and bacteria." The FDA pointed to a March 10 video titled, Experts Say Trump Must Seal The Border Like Israel & Italy Or Face Massive Coronavirus Surge, in which Jones claimed the government had determined the Nano Silver toothpaste was effective in fighting viruses.
"I’m not going to belabor this, I’m just gonna tell ya, that for just your daily life, and your gums and your teeth and for regular viruses and bacteria, the patented Nano Silver we have, the Pentagon has come out and documented, and homeland security have said this stuff kills the whole SARS corona family, at point blank range," he said in the video. "Well of course it does, it kills every virus. But they found that, this is 13 years ago, and the Pentagon uses the product we have. And the product we have in private label is about to be in Walmart."
Jones was given 48 hours to correct the violations or face legal action.
