Told To Stop By Court
In southern Florida, the United States District Court granted a temporary injunction ceasing the sale of purported treatment for COVID-19 that is unapproved by the FDA, unproven by scientific study, and potentially seriously dangerous, announced the Justice Department.
Indeed, in the civil complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida, the Justice Department alleges that the assertions and representations related to the purported treatment are “unsupported by any well-controlled clinical studies or other credible scientific substantiation.” Even further, the government asserts, “the labeling on this product is false and misleading, and that because those assertions and representations are “disease-related treatment claims” made “in the absence of any clinical data, the products are misbranded.”
According to court documents, the Department of Justice alleged that Genesis II Church of Health, and its principals, Mark Grenon, Joseph Grenon, Jordan Grenon, and Jonathan Grenon (collectively “defendants”) were selling and distributing a product called Mineral Miracle Solution (“MMS”). Defendants marketed and sold MMS through their website claiming that MMS would mitigate, treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, autism, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases. The chemical product, MMS, when combined with an activator, which defendants provided with MMS, creates a powerful bleach product that the defendants marketed as an oral supplement.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued many public warnings that ingesting MMS can cause severe symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and severe dehydration, as far back as August 2019.
“The Department of Justice will take swift action to protect consumers from illegal and potentially harmful products being offered to treat COVID-19,” stated Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Departments’ Civil Division, Jody Hunt. “We will continue to work closely alongside our partners at the Food and Drug Administration to quickly shut down those selling illegal products during this pandemic.”
“We will zealously pursue perpetrators of fraud schemes seeking to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” announced U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida. “Not only are these products potentially harmful, but their distribution and use may prevent those who are sick from receiving the legitimate healthcare they need.”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued defendants a Warning Letter in early April informing them their sale of MMS was in violation of multiple federal laws, including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), and the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act), for their efforts to distribute “unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs in interstate commerce.” Nonetheless, the Justice Department announced that defendants not only continued their scheme, but expressly asserted to the government that they would not take corrective measures.
“Americans expect and deserve proven medical treatments and today’s action is a forceful reminder that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will use its legal authorities to quickly stop those who have proven to continuously threaten the health of the American public. It is vital that sellers of drug products comply with the FD&C Act and do not sell products with false and misleading claims, especially to treat COVID-19 and other debilitating diseases, such as autism and Alzheimer’s disease,” stated FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “Despite a previous warning, the Genesis II Church of Healing has continued to actively place consumers at risk by peddling potentially dangerous and unapproved chlorine dioxide products. We will not stand for this, and the FDA remains fully committed to taking strong enforcement action against any sellers who place unsuspecting American consumers at risk by offering their unproven products to treat serious diseases.”
If you, friends, coworkers, or a family member see any products or services related to the COVID-19 that are:
- Misbranded,
- Unapproved,
- Unsubstantiated by scientific study, or
- Otherwise carries potential harmful side effects
Or, if you, friends, coworkers, or a family member see any products or services related to the COVID-19 that include claims that the product or service is:
- “A Miracle Cure,”
- “A Wonder Drug,”
- “Magic Bullet,” or
- Otherwise conveys it will cure or prevent COVID-19 with a significantly high efficacy, such as “90%-100% of the time.”
Please visit the website of the Department of Justice, FBI, FTC or FDA to report the activity and obtain more information.
