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Posted February 02, 2023

DoTerra Sellers Ordered to Pay $15,000 for Deceptive COVID-19 Claims

On January 30, 2023, the website truthinadvertising.org reported that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered three high-level doTerra distributors, who are current or retired medical professionals, to pay $15,000 civil penalties for promoting doTerra essential oils and other products to prevent, mitigate, or treat COVID-19 throughout a series of Zoom presentations.

Eliza Bacot, ACNP, Lauren Busch, RN, and Tina Wong, MD were sued by the DOJ at the request of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for violating FTC law and the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) after promoting the products through a series of Zoom presentations entitled “The Path Forward: Protocols for the Current Climate.”

Truthinadvertising.org previously submitted a complaint to the FTC following the Zoom series.

To date, no public action appears to have been taken against two other doTerra presenters, Kelly Couch, PA, and Lisa Ma, MD. Other doTerra Zoom series, which feature Lisa Ma and promote essential oils, such as “The Doctors Are In” have continued into 2023.

The makers of doTerra essential oils have received warnings from the FDA in the past for making claims that its products could prevent or treat illness. In April 2020, the company was warned for unsupported claims that essential oils can treat the coronavirus, as well as for deceptive earnings claims. The company was also warned in 2014 for promoting essential oils for treating the flu, MRSA, measles and more.

See ConsumerLab’s Lavender and Tea Tree Essential Oils Review for tests of related products.

Also see: Do any supplements help with the coronavirus (COVID-19)? Do supplements like vitamin D, zinc, vitamin C, or herbals work?

For more information, use the link below.

DOJ Orders doTerra Distributors to Pay $15,000 Each after TINA.org Complaint

See related recalls and warnings:

Complaint Submitted to FTC for doTerra Essential Oil COVID Claims

Ten Multi-Level Marketing Companies Warned for Coronavirus and Deceptive Earnings Claims

Seller Warned for Promoting Essential Oils to Treat Flu, MRSA, Measles, and More

Sellers of Essential Oils, Hand Sanitizers and More Warned for Coronavirus Claims

Six More Multi-Level Marketing Companies Warned for Coronavirus and Deceptive Earnings Claims