By BrieAnna J. Frank | Arizona Republic
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich sent a cease and desist letter to Glendale-based Clean Air EXP and Dream City Church for their claims suggesting an air purification system neutralizes COVID-19.
The Attorney General’s Office alleges that Clean Air EXP continues to advertise that its air filtration products neutralize 99.9% of viruses that are “COVID-19 surrogates,” according to a Friday morning press release.
Previous representations on the company’s website suggested that its filtration systems would “neutralize 99.9% of ‘coronavirus,’ when in fact this was based on testing of coronavirus 229E, a virus which causes the common cold,” the press release said.
The attorney general wrote that the statements imply the company’s products can prevent COVID-19 transmission and infection, but that the office is “aware of no scientific research or public health authority certifying any kind of air treatment product as a means of preventing COVID-19 infections.”
“Businesses cannot mislead consumers with their advertising, especially when it comes to health issues as serious as COVID-19,” Brnovich wrote. “We will not tolerate companies or individuals attempting to deceive or exploit the public during this public health crisis.”
