FTC warns Northwest company to stop claims that water bottle kills coronavirus

BLAINE, Wash. — The Federal Trade Commission is investigating a Northwest company for claims that its copper water bottles can kill the COVID-19 virus.

The Copper H2O website claims its water bottles protect against a number of ailments by supporting the immune system.

The Blaine company was among 20 marketers who received a warning letter from the FTC dated Nov. 12 to stop making unsupported claims that their products and therapies can prevent or treat COVID-19.

The FTC states in the letters that one or more of the efficacy claims made by the marketers aren’t supported by scientific evidence and therefore violate the FTC Act.

The letters order the recipients to immediately stop making all claims that their products can prevent or treat COVID-19. The marketers were also told to notify the FTC within 48 hours about the actions they have taken to address the agency’s concerns.

If the false claims continue, the FTC may seek a federal court injunction and an order requiring money to be refunded to consumers.

The FTC says it’s received hundreds of thousands of complaints about COVID-19-related products since the start of the pandemic.

Cox Media Group