A website is selling a product for osteoarthritis supposedly recommended by the Department of Health and its secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa. This is another fake ad using the health agency’s name.
Shared on Facebook (FB) as early as Nov. 13, the link’s thumbnail featured a photo of Herbosa and the text:
“DOH was surprised to discover the main cause of osteoarthritis! Doctors have successfully researched a new method to help patients recover from their illnesses without taking medication. Effective after only 14 days of treatment!”
The link leads netizens to the product website with the domain name FDASHOP.ONLINE. The product called “Grandsure Gold” supposedly minimizes osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, regenerates, restores and protects muscle-bone mass and relieves joint pains, among others.
It asks netizens to type in their personal information to avail themselves of the product with discounts and without shipping fees.
The DOH disowned the circulating ad and called it “fake,” in a Nov. 14 statement.
“The Department of Health warns the public against a circulating post using the name of Sec. Teodoro Herbosa to endorse a specific treatment for osteoarthritis. This endorsement is false. Neither the DOH nor the Secretary has endorsed any such product,” a part of DOH’s advisory read.
The health department also promised to work with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate false advertisements and hold those responsible for the falsehoods accountable.
Updates from the DOH are found on their official social media accounts and website.
In 2022, the FDA released a warning against the consumption of the product Grandsure Gold Nutrient Dense Drink.
However, a product with the brand name “Grandsure gold” and product name “Adult Nutritional Supplement Milk Powder Drink Mix Vanilla Flavor” obtained a certificate of product registration with the FDA last Oct. 16.
VERA Files Fact Check previously debunked another fake ad from the website FDASHOP.ONLINE. (Read PGH, endocrinologist Augusto Litonjua NOT promoting milk supplement for diabetes)
This is also not the first time that a DOH official has been used in fabricated reports that aim to promote cures. (Read CNN Philippines, DOH disown FAKE exposé on ‘hidden hypertension cure’)
The fake ads circulated two weeks after the country celebrated Bone and Joint Awareness Week, as declared by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through Proclamation No. 658.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
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