‘Healing Church’ Fined AU$150,000 for Selling Bleach as Coronavirus Cure
A“healing church” in Australia which promoted the use of bleach as a cure for coronavirus has been fined AU$151,200 (about FJ$219,645) for alleged unlawful advertising offences.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the infringement notices relate to the sale and promotion of Miracle Mineral Supplement and other medicines by Southern Cross Directories Pty Ltd, which trades as MMS Australia.
The product is a solution which contains sodium chlorite - a chemical used as a textile bleaching agent and disinfectant.
The TGA said the Australian chapter of the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing falsely claimed the solution could treat, cure, prevent and alleviate diseases including COVID-19. Concerned about the harmful effects of ingesting the product, a warning has been issued by the authority. There is no clinical, scientifically-accepted evidence showing that MMS can cure or alleviate any disease,” the TGA said on Wednesday.
“The use of MMS presents serious health risks, and can result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and severe dehydration, which in some cases can result in hospitalisation.”
The TGA also alleges that the group implied a health practitioner had endorsed the product, and a testimonial endorsing the product came from someone directly involved with the production, sale, supply and marketing of it.
It comes after Genesis II Church US leader, Mark Grenon, reportedly wrote to Donald Trump just days before he claimed disinfectant could be a cure for COVID-19.
The letter said the product is “a wonderful detox that can kill 99 per cent of the pathogens in the body”, adding that it “can rid the body of COVID-19”, the Guardian reports.
The TGA said the product was often marketed as water purification drops and may be offered under different names.
“It contains a high concentration of sodium chlorite, which is a chemical used as a textile bleaching agent and disinfectant,” a statement on its website says.
“Products containing high concentrations of sodium chlorite pose a serious health risk if consumed by humans and should be labelled with the appropriate warnings.
“MMS has not been approved by the TGA for use to treat, cure, prevent or alleviate any disease or condition.”
A disclaimer on the MMS Australia website says it does not believe in “miracle cures” and its products are “not intended” to treat or cure diseases.
Evening Standard