FDA issues warning against ‘cancer cure’ food supplement

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against Flor Essence, a food supplement that is being advertised as a cure for cancer, saying there is no proof to back the claim.

 

In Advisory 2014-073, the FDA said that while Flor Essence is registered as a supplement, ads about it being a cancer cure are misleading.

 

"The curative claim is false, deceptive and misleading. The product was approved by the FDA as a food supplement ... and not as a drug or medicine," said FDA head Kenneth Hartigan-Go.

 

Yet, he said the product's ads use testimonial statements suggested the product can replace doctors' care.

 

Hartigan-Go stressed all therapeutic claims "should be substantiated by a well-designed clinical trial."

 

As advertised, he said the product "carries unacceptable claims as food supplement."

 

Meanwhile, he reiterated using such items instead of prescribed medicines could prove harmful or even fatal. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News