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COVID-19

FDA warns Idaho company to stop selling fraudulent coronavirus treatments

By Audrey Dutton Idaho Statesman

An Idaho business has been added to a federal health-fraud list for selling unapproved coronavirus treatments.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission sent a warning letter last week to Herbal Amy, a Nampa-based company that sells CBD and herbal products on its website.

One of those products is called the “Buhner Coronavirus Kit” or the “Coronavirus Protocol.” The website was selling the kit for $155 on Tuesday as a “Coronavirus Protocol” made up of three tinctures and a tea.

“We request that you take prompt action to cease the sale of such unapproved and unauthorized products for mitigation, prevention, treatment, diagnosis, or cure of COVID-19,” said the letter to Herbal Amy and its proprietor, Amy Weidner.

Herbal Amy was one of seven companies added to receive joint warning letters from the FDA and FTC demanding they cease selling “fraudulent COVID-19 products.”

Most of the companies are not well-known, with one exception: convicted fraudster and longtime televangelist Jim Bakker’s daily show.

“There already is a high level of anxiety over the potential spread of coronavirus,” FTC Chairman Joe Simons said in a news release. “What we don’t need in this situation are companies preying on consumers by promoting products with fraudulent prevention and treatment claims. These warning letters are just the first step. We’re prepared to take enforcement actions against companies that continue to market this type of scam.”