Anti-Science

Can Sylvia Browne & Montel Williams Prevent Cancer?

Have Montel and Sylvia come up with a way to prevent cancer? Probably not.

Montel says, “You can reduce your risk of colon cancer if you just apply some of the principles that are in our recipes like putting more vegetables and fruit through your body, the Food and Drug Administration have made that statement.” They have not made any such statement.

You can see the infomercial clips here, and let the FDA know here, and let the FTC know here.

Rebecca Watson

Rebecca is a writer, speaker, YouTube personality, and unrepentant science nerd. In addition to founding and continuing to run Skepchick, she hosts Quiz-o-Tron, a monthly science-themed quiz show and podcast that pits comedians against nerds. There is an asteroid named in her honor. Twitter @rebeccawatson Mastodon mstdn.social/@rebeccawatson Instagram @actuallyrebeccawatson TikTok @actuallyrebeccawatson YouTube @rebeccawatson BlueSky @rebeccawatson.bsky.social

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17 Comments

  1. No more than listening to Jenny McCarthy can prevent autism.

    I wonder if her drivel is the cause of autism?

  2. I can’t listen to videos and such at work, so I’ll just make a completely off-topic comment, which I think I’ve brought up before: Your glasses are awesomesauce. I drool over them every time I see a video or picture of you.

  3. I can’t watch the video, but I thought that getting a lot of fiber actually can reduce your risk of colon cancer. Is the problem that they took this advice way too far?

  4. @catgirl: @James Fox: Also, regardless of any link between fruits and cancer, I think that the FDA has a serious problem with companies selling products based on that link since at best the link will always be tenuous.

  5. @Rebecca: Agreed. I wonder if the FDA will have its budget frozen in the near future when it should be expanded for more effective enforcement.

  6. That’s a good question Rebecca, what will do the FDA do will all of Montel’s seized blenders? I have a feeling we’d all end up with cheap blender from ebay, or perhaps more smoothies in school lunches.

  7. I wonder if having a 2 pack a day smoker like Sylvia on a show about cancer prevention is a bit ironic. But as long as she drinks some fruit juice, I guess she’ll be ok!

  8. Montel is also shilling for Cash Call, a paycheck advance loan company that charges loan shark interest rates [from 59.9% to 99%] and is being sued in various jurisdictions for violating lending and debt collection laws. So he markets financial delusions, as well.

  9. We need to all be fair to these celebrities. Times are hard all across America and these people have very lavish lifestyles to keep up. As I’m sure Mrs. Bucket will gladly tell you appearances don’t keep themselves up.

    Heck, poor Montel has to do something. He had over $18,000 a month to come up with just for child support.

    http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/01/17/2010-01-17_tv_star_montel_williams_two_kids_say_hes_like_a_stranger_to_them.html

  10. I’m surprised he still has her on the air after the Shawn Hornbeck fiasco. In brief, the parents of a missing boy went on the Montel show to ask Browne about their child. She told them that he was definitely dead. After the taping, her employees asked them for money in exchange for the location of their son’s body. The couple didn’t have enough cash, so they passed. It was just as well, because their son was found alive several years later.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Browne#The_Montel_Williams_Show

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