Sunday Sep 21, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- The Federal Trade Commission on Sep 18 announced 11 law enforcement actions against more than two dozens of companies that are alleged to make false or deceptive or misleading claims that their products cure or treat one or more types of cancer.

The FTC said in its announcement that in each case, the company violated the FTC Act, which bars deceptive claims and the companies falsely touted clinical or scientific proof for their products.

“There is no credible scientific evidence that any of the products marketed by these companies can prevent, cure, or treat cancer of any kind,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Of the 11 complaints the FTC announced, six have been resolved by proposed settlements while the other 5 will be litigated. The agency required among other things all companies to notify consumers who purchased their products that there was no evidence to prove the products they sell treat or cure any cancer.

The products of concern include essiac teas and other herbal mixtures, laetrile, black salve (a corrosive ointment), and mushroom extracts.    Some of the products are highly touted as alternative therapies that many people claimed they have successfully used.

The government's stand is firmly against any of such claims.   "Many of these products are scams," Parnes said, "and let's face it, when you’re battling cancer, the last thing you need is a scam. The best idea is to talk to your doctor about any treatment that you are thinking about taking."

The FTC took the legal actions against the companies after the agency along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Competition Bureau Canada conducted so-called Internet surf in June 2007.   During the period of Aug. 2007 to Jan. 2008, the agency sent warning letters to 112 websites of which 30 percent either complied to close or removed the cancer treatment claims.

The FDA also sent warning letters to 23 U.S. companies and two foreigners.  The FDA views anything that is claimed to treat or cure any disease as a drug and as such it needs to be approved by the agency or any treatment claim is in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Among the cases, the FTC sued five companies that refused to comply to seek an order from an administrative law judge at the Commission prohibiting the respondents from "representing that their products prevent, treat, or cure any type of cancer unless the representation is true, non-misleading, and supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence."

Below are the five cases the FTC sued, cited from the FTC announcement in verbatim:

Alexander Heckman d/b/a Omega Supply – Among the products this company marketed are laetrile, which can cause cyanide poisoning when taken orally at high doses; hydrazine sulphate, which is classified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a potential carcinogen; and cloracesium, which contains celsium chloride. According to the complaint, in addition to making deceptive and false claims that these products are safe and that they effectively prevent, treat, and cure cancer, the respondents also made false claims that the products are scientifically proven to work.

Native Essence Herb Company – The products marketed by this company include herbal concoctions (Rene Caisse essiac tea blend and cat’s claw), the herb chaparral, and maitake mushrooms extracts. In 1992, the FDA classified chaparral as unsafe because of its “association with acute toxic hepatitis.” According to the complaint, the respondents made deceptive and false claims that these products are effective for treating and curing a variety of cancers, eliminating or shrinking tumors, and for preventing breast cancer.

Daniel Chapter One – This company markets several herbal formulations as well as shark cartilage. According to the complaint, in addition to making deceptive and false claims that these products effectively prevent, treat, and cure cancer, the respondents also claim that one of their herbal formulations mitigates the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy. In addition to the FTC action announced today, this company received a warning letter from FDA.

Gemtronics, Inc. – This company markets a product called RAAX11, which is made of chrysobalanus icaco, a derivative from a tropical bush, and agaricus, a medicinal mushroom.  According to the complaint, in addition to making deceptive and false claims that these products effectively prevent, treat, and cure cancer, the respondents also made false claims that these products were scientifically proven to work. In addition to the FTC action announced today, this company received a warning letter from FDA.

Mary T. Spohn d/b/a Herbs for Cancer – Spohn sold Chinese herbal teas in varying formulations. According to the company’s advertisements, these teas were formulated to fight 16 different types of cancer. A seventeenth type [of blended tea] is represented as a “special formula” for “cancers not on our list.” According to the complaint, in addition to making deceptive and false claims that these formulations effectively treat and cure cancer, the respondents also claim that some of them are scientifically proven to work. In addition to the FTC action announced today, this company received a warning letter from FDA.

In response to the FTC's actions, Mike Adams, a long term health observer at naturalnews.com, criticized the U.S. move saying that "both the FTC and FDA work to protect the interests of the pharmaceutical companies by discrediting or outlawing competing natural cures that work better, more safely and more affordable than FDA-approved pharmaceuticals."

According to Adams, natural cure for cancer exists and many nutrients, supplements and herbs may be just what cancer patients need to help them recover.   For example, vitamin D can cut breast cancer risk up to 70 percent.

Two books that may be used by the companies to defend their claim on the effectiveness of laetrile at treating cancer are "The World Without Cancer" by G. Edward Griffin, an award-winning journalist and "Alive & Well: One Doctor's Experience With Nutrition in the Treatment of Cancer Patients" by Philip E. Binzel, a late physician who told his story about his experience using laetrile in more than 300 cancer patients.