Beware of Fraudulent Flu Products

As cold weather settles in, the threat of flu season is here which compounds COVID-19 concerns. The best defense against the flu is getting a flu vaccine.

There are no legal over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to combat the flu itself. There are OTC drugs to ease the symptoms. There are also a lot of other products sold, including food products like herbal teas, that make claims to fight the flu. Some of these products are fraudulent and could mislead consumers resulting in serious harm. There are also unexpected side effects or interactions with other medications.

Some fraudulent claims to look for include:

• Reduction of flu severity or length.
• Boost immunity without a flu vaccine.
• Prevent catching the flu or other viral infections
• Support your body’s natural immune defenses.

Always seek medical attention for the best treatment advice.