HealthDay Reports: FDA Warns of Dangerous, Bogus Claims That Bleach Can Treat COVID-19

FDA logo in blue letters

A bleaching agent with severe, life-threatening side effects is being fraudulently marketed as a treatment for COVID-19.

The FDA said in a press release that it has had reports of people having "serious adverse events" after drinking chlorine dioxide products, including respiratory failure, severely low blood pressure, acute liver failure and low blood cell counts.

FDA Warns of Dangerous, Bogus Claims That Bleach Can Treat COVID-19

THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- A warning letter has been sent to a company marketing bogus and dangerous chlorine dioxide products for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

The fraudulent claims by the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing about its "Miracle Mineral Solution" products are especially concerning in relation to children, who are at increased risk for harm from consuming chlorine dioxide, according to the FDA.

The joint warning letter from the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission gave the company 48 hours to outline what it's done to correct the violations.

The FDA has previously warned consumers against buying or drinking chlorine dioxide products sold online as medical treatments. Chlorine dioxide is a powerful bleaching agent with serious and potentially life-threatening side effects.

Read the full HealthDay story.