Nutrition “scammers” try to cash in on coronavirus fears with “outlandish health claims”

14 Feb 2020 --- As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases – now called COVID-19 – reaches 47,000 around the world, misinformation surrounding supplements and herbs is running rampant. Social media has seen the spread of speculation and rumors, including the supposed curative properties of everything from oregano to bleach. Further exacerbating this issue are some unscrupulous companies within the nutrition industry, peddling supplements claiming to “treat or prevent infection by the coronavirus.” As a result, organizations such as the Natural Products Association (NPA) are calling on governments to crack down on scammers and the misinformation deluge. NutritionInsight takes a closer look at the link between nutrition and coronavirus to narrow down to what extent diet can help better protect against such a virus.

“If a product sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. There is no such thing as a magic pill and consumers should steer clear of any product being marketed as a nutritional supplement that says it will prevent, treat or cure coronavirus or any other illness,” says Daniel Fabricant, President and CEO of NPA.

The US-based organization has written to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging it to take action against supplements claiming to fight coronavirus. It is already illegal for nutritional supplement manufacturers to claim their products “prevent, treat or cure” any illness. NPA also asks that the FDA stop online retailers or resellers from including tags to “Coronavirus” as a workaround for FDA’s regulations pertaining to the type of claims that are allowed on dietary supplement labels.

“The coronavirus is a substantial emerging health issue. Any such issue creates fear, and unfortunately unreputable actors look to capitalize on that fear, including those that will market anything to make money with little regard for the harm that their actions will cause. These scams put consumers at risk when they claim that their products will treat or prevent illnesses, like the newly identified coronavirus. Individuals that choose these fraudulent products rather than seeking therapy or treatment from a reputable health care provider are putting their health at risk,” Fabricant explains in his letter. 

Misinformation on social media
According to Harvard Health Publishing, social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok, have seen the spread of claims about oregano oil, taking vitamin C and sales of “nonmedical immune boosters” as a means to ward off coronavirus. Additionally, diet modifications such as avoiding cold drinks, milkshakes, ice cream and spicy food have also been making the rounds. 

Social media has seen the spread of misinformation surrounding coronavirus "cures."“Whenever there is a health crisis that gets a lot of media coverage, there is also a tendency for some opportunists to make outlandish claims that are not rooted in common sense. However, consumers should not self-treat any serious illness. They should also give any brand claiming to cure Wuhan coronavirus a wide berth. There are also a lot of wild theories and so-called ‘cures’ that are obviously a terrible idea, like the [far-right conspiracy theory] QAnon recommendation to drink bleach,” says Wilson Lau, Vice President, Nuherbs, which is a major supplier of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs to the US market. 

Nuherbs, along with numerous other companies including Lonza and L’Oréal, has seen its supply chain affected. However, many businesses remain optimistic that the epidemic will pass quickly, leaving them relatively unscathed.

“Clearly there are many different areas to consider to address the current coronavirus outbreak; however, nutrition can certainly play a part. There are certainly some ‘myths’ out there about foods that can fight off the virus. The key message is there is no miracle cure and this is certainly not found in the kitchen. Proper medical advice needs to be followed but a good diet can definitely support your immune system,” says Clare Thornton-Wood, Registered Dietitian and The Association of UK Dieticians (BDA) media spokesperson.

On the flip side of this information deluge, the internet is also providing a way for younger generations to educate themselves independently, notes Jeff Crowther, Executive Director of Health Products Association-China, a US non-profit association dedicated to the overall natural health products industry. 

“Many older Chinese people rely too heavily on friends and neighbors for health advice or life advice in general. The younger generation is much more educated and are keen to learn the truth of things on their own by thoroughly researching online,” states Crowther. 

Companies cashing in
While the coronavirus death count continues to rise, some nutrition companies are seeing a boost to their sales as a result of the epidemic, notes Crowther. He draws a parallel with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002-2003, pointing out that there has been an uptick in purchases of vitamin C and other dietary supplements and TCM in a bid to boost immune systems. 

“Because there are those that will take advantage of this situation to make money, the government is closely watching health food products, supplements and TCM companies to ensure they don’t overstate the product’s function. For example, any advertising or marketing of products that mention being a cure or treatment for coronavirus are being monitored and punished accordingly,” Crowther confirms. 

He continues that governmental crackdowns on parties profiting from coronavirus means that it would be a challenge for the nutrition industry to do much of anything in regard to this virus. “The only thing industry could preach would be eating to bolster general health. At this time, any reference to battling coronavirus with nutrition would be frowned on by the government,” he says. 

A place for supplements?Some suggest that complementary medicine and supplements can help boost immunity as a whole. 
Despite the need to ensure consumers do not rely on complementary medicine and supplements alone, some suggest that they can help bolster immunity as a whole. Thornton-Wood notes that the better a person’s nutrition is, likely the stronger their immune system will be. 

“The best start is a healthy diet including all food groups such as fruit and vegetables, proteins and carbohydrates. This should provide you with the vitamins and minerals you need to maintain a strong immune system and also support your gut microflora. This is key as a large part of the immune system is in the gut,” she explains.

Meanwhile, Lau of Nuherbs notes that there are well-trained clinical herbalists and TCM doctors who can very effectively treat a variety of serious health conditions. 

“In China, some doctors and hospitals, such as the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Medicine, are effectively treating coronavirus using TCM integrated with conventional medicine, but keep in mind those patients are being monitored by medical staff. People should not try this at home. Additionally, herbs can play a useful role in supporting the immune system to help people’s bodies fight off viruses to begin with, which many people routinely utilize as the cold and flu season approaches,” he explains. 

Crowther also notes that nutrition and supplements surely can play a role in keeping the body healthy and more prepared to deal with illness. “However, I have not heard of any food or natural remedy that will stave off or cure the common cold, flu or, in this case, an aggressive virus,” he concludes. 

By Katherine Durrell