ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -St. Louis-based chiropractor Eric Anthony Nepute is the first person in the U.S. to be charged under a new law meant to protect people against deceptively marketed products claiming to treat or prevent COVID-19.
Nepute and his company Quickwork LLC, have been charged by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act.
Congress passed the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act in 2020, making it illegal under the FTC Act to engage in deceptive marketing related to the treatment, cure, prevention, mitigation, or diagnosis of COVID–19, or any government benefit related to COVID-19. The law also authorizes the FTC to seek civil monetary penalties for first-time violations.
"The defendants' claims that their products can stand in for approved COVID-19 vaccines are particularly troubling: we need to be doing everything we can to stop bogus health claims that endanger consumers," said Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. "With this case, the Commission has quickly put to use its new authority to stop false marketing claims related to the pandemic."
According to the complaint, the Nepute marketed vitamin D and zinc products under the brand name "Wellness Warrior," and claimed that they were as, or more, effective than vaccines that are currently available.
He posted a video on Facebook that received millions of views in April of 2020. I the video he tells viewers they can drink tonic water and take zinc as a "preventative" measure against COVID-19. The FTC complaint was sent to Nepute saying his video was "unlawfully advertising that certain products or services treat or prevent Coronavirus Disease."
Despite receiving the warning letter, Nepute continued marketing Wellness Warrior vitamins "as proven immunity boosters that effectively treat or prevent COVID-19 and offer equal or better protection from the disease than currently available vaccines," the FTC report states.
Nepute and Quickwork could be fined up to $43,792 for each violation of the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act.
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