Add Category
The Australian chapter of an international church that peddles bleach as a cure for coronavirus is selling the product locally.
Key points:
- Genesis II Church of Health and Healing claims that bleach can cure coronavirus
- The Australian chapter of the church is selling the bleach, which it calls MMS, on its website
- The church's "Archbishop" says he wrote to Donald Trump about MMS and coronavirus
The Genesis II Church of Health and Healing claims chlorine dioxide is a "miracle cure".
It sells the industrial bleach as Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), stating it can cure COVID-19 as well as autism, acne, cancer, diabetes and more.
MMS is not approved for human consumption in Australia or the United States.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration warned that MMS poses a serious health risk if consumed and should be labelled with the word "poison".
The US leader of the church, Archbishop Mark Grenon, claims he wrote to President Donald Trump about its "sacramental cleansing water" days before Trump's infamous press conference in which he suggested injecting disinfectant as a potential coronavirus cure.
It prompted health experts to issue warnings advising the public not to attempt it.
Mr Trump later claimed he was being sarcastic.
In a video, Archbishop Grenon said he told Mr Trump that chlorine dioxide could "rid the body of COVID-19".
"There is so much evidence proving it is a wonderful detox through oxidation that kills 99 per cent of the pathogens in the body, that is why we have so many testimonies," he said.
'This is bleach. And it's dangerous'
Associate professor Ken Harvey, an expert in public health from Monash University, first came across MMS on an Australian health shop website 10 years ago and made a complaint to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
The product has re-emerged on the MMS Australia website, which is run by Charles Barton, who describes himself in emails as a bishop of the Genesis II Church.
His "Doc Barton" products include "water purification drops" which contain 28 per cent sodium chlorite, as well as separate bottles of hydrochloric acid "activator".
Instructional videos — found through links on the MMS Australia website — show people how to mix the two solutions together to make chlorine dioxide before diluting with water for drinking.
"This is bleach," Dr Harvey told 7.30.
"And it is dangerous.
"It should not be on the market, the authorities should remove it."
The clinical director of the NSW Poisons Information Centre warned there were very severe side effects to taking MMS.
"We've had four hospitalisations in the last year in NSW of various levels of severity," Professor Andrew Dawson told 7.30.
"I'm also aware of a patient in Queensland who became extremely sick and was hospitalised for several weeks."
'I would not drink that'
7.30 ordered some products from MMS Australia and took them to a pool shop for testing.
Following a protocol available through links on the Australian website, three drops of sodium chlorite were mixed with three drops of hydrochloric acid "activator" and then added to water.
Pool service manager Jarrod Cullen tested the dose for free chlorine levels.
He used a DPD 1 reagent tablet which turns water different shades of pink depending on the level of chlorine present.
The MMS liquid turned hot pink.
As a comparison, Mr Cullen said tap water would usually remain fairly clear when tested.
"This is quite strong," Mr Cullen said.
"That's a level that would keep a pool free from algae, and I would not drink that."
'No evidence' of COVID-19 pandemic
7.30 contacted Mr Barton, but he declined to be interviewed.
In an email, he said the attention to the Genesis II Church was "most unwelcome".
"We have learned through hard experience over the years that corporate media, whether privately owned, or publicly funded, will only demonise us," Mr Barton said.
"The innocent and perfectly safe cleansing water we use in our protocols and sacraments are presented and described by the lying media to be dangerous industrial bleach."
In response to questions about the church leader's recent claims about MMS curing COVID-19, Mr Barton said:
"We may and may not agree with our Archbishop's articulation and interpretation of particular points and detail."
But he made "no apologies" for linking to the Archbishop's "work and teachings".
Finally, Mr Barton questioned the existence of COVID-19.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has told 7.30 it is investigating MMS Australia and the claims it makes through links on its website.
