Durek Verrett claims medallion helped against corona disease – sells it on its own website – VG

Durek Verrett says a special medallion helped him recover from corona – a medallion he sells on his website for over NOK 2,000. Must be able to document effect, says the Norwegian Consumer Protection Authority.

On Tuesday, it became known that Durek Verrett was infected with corona after visiting Norway. In a video he himself posted on Instagram, he said he refused to receive medical treatment.

In an Instagram story posted on Thursday, he elaborates on this: He left the hospital and refused to take “chemicals”. Instead, he chose to quarantine at home and “heal” with his “SO”, writes Verrett.

“SO” stands for “Spirit Optimizer”, and is a collection of Verrett’s handmade medallions. On his website, he describes “SO” as “advanced spiritual technology for spirit-hacking and optimization”.

He also mentioned this in the video on Instagram.

– I don’t know if you have brought the new white “optimizer” with you? I use this thing called ‘The Lightbringer’ to get the poison out of my system,” he said.

Verrett does not say in the video or in the story where you can get hold of the “optimiser”, but the medallion can be bought on his website for 222 dollars – approximately 2150 Norwegian kroner.

– Hardly to recommend

Verrett sells three versions of “SO” and it is therefore “The lightbringer” that he claims helped to make him well from corona.

On his website, he writes that the medallion can improve public health.

VG has presented Verrett with the criticism in this case and sent him several questions – including whether he can document that “The Lightbringer” can cure diseases such as corona. Verrett has the following comment:

– Interview the people who own one and ask them, not me, he writes in a message.

VG has asked immunologist at Oslo University Hospital Fridtjof Lund-Johansen if he thinks the medallion can help cure corona.

– For the vast majority of people, it is hardly recommended, he says.

Must be able to be documented

– If someone claims that something has an effect against coronavirus, this is something we take very seriously, writes department director of the Norwegian Consumer Protection Authority, Bente Øverli, in an e-mail to VG.

Øverli says that they have not taken a position on Verrett’s statements about the product, but on a general basis she says that marketing claims about facts must always be able to be documented.

– It is therefore against the law to market undocumented claims about products’ properties, including undocumented claims about products’ effectiveness against, for example, “getting the poison out of my system”. The claim must be interpreted and there will be an overall assessment of what is in it, says Øverli further.

– If the claim is linked to getting rid of a disease or its after-effects, this must therefore be documented in the first place.

– It is important that he complies with Norwegian law

Verrett mainly resides in Los Angeles. The Norwegian Consumer Protection Authority states that persons residing outside Norway must nevertheless comply with the Marketing Act if the marketing is aimed at Norwegian consumers.

– As a very well-known person in Norway, he has considerable influence and it is therefore important that he complies with Norwegian law if, and when, he targets a Norwegian audience.

VG has submitted the statements from Lund-Johansen and Øverli to Verrett, but he has not commented on them.

Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett announced their engagement in June this year. Durek Verrett and Märtha Louise confirmed in May 2019 that they were in a relationship.

Princess Märtha is fourth in line to the throne. However, she has renounced the title “Her Royal Highness”, and she does not use the princess title in her marketing of her own businesses.

VG has contacted Princess Märtha Louise’s secretary, Carina Scheele Carlsen, and asked for a comment from the princess – and whether the princess supports Verrett’s statements about the “optimiser”. Scheele states that Princess Märtha Louise has no comment.

– Everyone must understand that it is advertising

Øverli says that if someone markets a product on their own Instagram profile, this must be labeled as advertising.

– Is this hidden advertising?

– I have not assessed the specific marketing push, but it must always be clear that advertising is designed and presented so that it clearly appears as advertising. Everyone must perceive that it is advertising before or at the same time as they see this.

It is unknown whether the Norwegian Consumer Protection Authority will follow up on this case. Øverli says they have not received any complaints about Verrett’s mention of the medallions.

– Cases can be taken up on the basis of complaints we receive, but we also have the opportunity to take up cases on our own initiative. However, we must prioritize strictly and in the assessment of whether a case should be processed we look at how much safety, financial and practical importance the case has for consumers.