⛳ Lawn disorder: A University of Michigan study reveals men who love golfing and gardening might have an increased risk for Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS — the same paralyzing disease Stephen Hawking had. Researchers suspect pesticides with formaldehyde could be the culprit. The evidence isn’t final, so don’t quit your hobbies just yet.
These products claiming to kill COVID-19 are being pulled from Amazon and eBay
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon and eBay have become digital hotspots for all things retail. With so many brick-and-mortar stores closed as states across the country shut down, these websites became a go-to resource for stocking up on supplies — including masks, medicine, disinfectants and other healthcare products.
With so many people relying on these online marketplaces, the scammers of the web saw a perfect opportunity to rip desperate people off. Between price gouging ordinary products and shilling phony COVID-19 treatments, avoiding scammers has become increasingly difficult. Tap or click here to see how some scammers got away jacking prices up.
But the powers that be have finally said: “Enough is enough!” The EPA is now telling Amazon and eBay to stop allowing sellers to market dangerous chemicals as COVID-19 treatments. If you plan on doing some online shopping in the near future, here’s what you need to know.
EPA to Amazon and eBay: ‘Pesticides can’t kill coronavirus.’
The EPA is finally bringing the hammer down on shady online retailers peddling dangerous chemicals as disinfectants and COVID-19 treatments.
According to a new alert posted by the agency, the EPA has contacted both Amazon and eBay about sellers fraudulently marketing chemicals in their online stores and is demanding the listings be removed to protect shoppers. The products in question aren’t actually disinfectants or soaps at all, but toxic pesticides created for industrial use.
Some eBay and Amazon sellers are describing these products with language implying that they’re safe for at-home use and will either kill or neutralize coronavirus particles. Not only are these statements scientifically unsound, using these chemicals at home can actually cause more harm to your health.
Related: Tap or click here to read the FDA warning about fake coronavirus cures and treatments.
In fact, many of the pesticides in question are actually restricted for industrial use as well, and pose an “immediate health risk to consumers, children, pets, and others exposed to the products.” What’s more, most of these chemicals are sold by overseas merchants and have not been approved for domestic sales by the EPA — a legal requirement for any pesticide.
As per the “stop sale” alert, Amazon and eBay have already started to remove listings across the board. That said, it’s unlikely they’ll catch everything all at once — especially as sellers change their language and product descriptions around to slide under the radar.
How can I spot the chemicals and pesticides eBay and Amazon miss?
Thankfully, you don’t need to do a lot of legwork to avoid getting duped by a quack COVID-19 treatment. To protect yourself from coronavirus particles, you don’t need anything more than good old soap and hand sanitizers, which are in short supply, unfortunately. Alternative chemicals are not recommended, and shouldn’t even be considered in the first place.
20% of produce contains unsafe levels of pesticides
For produce in U.S. grocery stores. Takeaways from Consumer Reports’ analysis: Bell peppers, blueberries (even frozen) and potatoes must be organic to be safe. Celery, collard greens and strawberries must be U.S.-grown or organic to be safe. And green beans must be U.S.-grown and organic to be safe. tl;dr: Buy organic when you can.