Joseph Mercola

Following restrictions on several major platforms, Mercola developed a paid content library on Substack. The CCDH estimated that his newsletter had tens of thousands of paying subscribers and documented headlines claiming, among other things, that Covid vaccines killed more children than they saved.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Mercola Health Resources received approximately $335,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program, designed to support businesses during the pandemic. The loan sparked controversy because Mercola and his network were simultaneously disseminating messages strongly critical of public health policies and Covid-19 vaccination.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

The FDA found that Mercola.com was marketing products including liposomal vitamin C, vitamin D3 and quercetin with claims that they were intended to prevent, mitigate or treat Covid-19. The agency classified these products as unapproved new drugs and misbranded products in light of their claimed uses and demanded an immediate halt to the relevant claims.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Center for Countering Digital Hate placed Mercola at the top of its group of twelve prominent anti-vaccine content producers. Its analysis of a sample of posts attributed up to 65% of the anti-vaccine content examined to the twelve accounts and organisations combined.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

YouTube removed Joseph Mercola's channels under a new policy more broadly prohibiting claims that approved vaccines were ineffective or dangerous. Mercola was among several anti-vaccine campaigners explicitly targeted by enforcement of the policy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Joseph Mercola donated nearly $3 million to the National Vaccine Information Center over approximately a decade, representing a very substantial share of its funding. He also disseminated content challenging vaccination recommendations and promoting vitamin D or vitamin C, among other substances, as alternatives or protection against certain infections.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The FTC brought proceedings against Mercola and his companies over advertisements claiming, among other things, that their tanning systems were safe, did not increase melanoma risk, could reduce cancer risk or reverse skin ageing. The settlement prohibited them from selling tanning systems and provided for consumer refunds; the FTC subsequently distributed approximately $2.59 million to more than 1,300 purchasers.

State of the evidence

Settlement

Attribution

Accused