Swine Flu Snake Oil

The swine flu is creating a cottage industry of questionable products sold on the Web.

While a number of health care companies are stepping up to meet the threat of the flu, the government is cracking down on more than a hundred products, including shampoos, herbal remedies, gloves and flu kits that claim to prevent or fight the virus.

The Food and Drug Administration lists 140 products, including Flu Away inhaler and Safe Life mask, that it says makes fraudulent claims. Officials are concerned people will buy products they think will help them and won't get vaccinations or take precautions to prevent getting the virus.

The common theme among the manufacturers: companies that "are motivated by profit, not concern for public health," Gary Coody, the FDA's health fraud coordinator, tells the Washington Post. None of the products are approved by the FDA.

Some sites even claim to sell Roche's vaccine Tamiflu without a prescription, the Associated Press reports. Among five products that claim to be Tamiflu and were tested by the FDA, one contained talcum powder and another had generic Tylenol, the AP reports.

"It's harmful, disappointing, frustrating to see folks take advantage of the public like this," John Santa, who evaluates health claims for Consumer Reports, tells the AP.