Food and Drug Administration found hundreds of suspect items advertised as swine flu deterrents and cures, and over the last six months warned 80 Internet retailers to stop peddling unproved or illegal treatments.
Products that abound on the internet range from an ultra violet light that promises to destroy the swine flu virus, to dietary supplements that claim to be more effective than the vaccine, to super concentrated hand sanitizers and super efficient masks.
The FDA has issued an advisory warning consumers to exercise “extreme care” when purchasing the swine flu virus treatments. More and more unscrupulous vendors are expected to appear on the Internet through out the flu season, preying on potential victims.
"It's very important that consumers know these products can be deceptive and risky," said Alyson Saben, deputy director of the FDA's Office of Enforcement. "They offer a false sense of protection and could delay someone from seeking treatment."
Richard Cleland, the FTC's assistant director of the advertising practices division, said the SARS and anthrax scares generated similar products.
The FDA has issued warning letters to vendors on the internet, with the majority of the warning letters -- which tell companies to contact the FDA within 48 hours about their corrective plans or face enforcement action – involving dietary supplements.
FDA investigators began their daily Internet searches shortly after federal health officials declared the H1N1 virus a public health emergency in April.
Penalties for not correcting violations range from seizure of the products to criminal prosecution.
Owners of some health food stores are refusing to carry products that claim they treat the H1N1 virus. "Most people who run these kind of stores know what products are used to build the immune system, and they trust us to give them something they or their children can take," said Karla Fedoruk, owner of Cooper City Health Foods in Florida.
"We know these products aren't allowed to say they can treat swine flu.”