This government recognises the damaging impact online misinformation can have. Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a "cure". The NHS website highlights that products falsely claiming to be cures or treatments for autism are harmful, including chlorine dioxide.

The Online Safety Act requires platforms to tackle illegal health mis- and disinformation content on their services for all users – these requirements have been in place since March. Additionally from 25 July, services in-scope of the Act that children can easily access, will be required to protect them from legal but nonetheless harmful content, including that which encourages the ingestion, inhalation or exposure to harmful substances.

There are no circumstances in which sodium chlorite or bleach, or these other substances, should be used as a treatment for autism.

We have been clear that these compounds have no proven or conceivable health benefit and may cause serious damage to health.

The Food Standards Agency has issued advice on sodium chlorite to local authorities to take appropriate action and placed consumer advice for oral products on its website.

Local authorities have responsibility for preventing the sale of these products through retail outlets under trading standards legislation.

Where there is any threat to the safety and wellbeing of a child, this may lead to offences of child cruelty being considered, requiring a wider safeguarding response involving the police, children's services and relevant partners. Such a threat could include any harm caused by the administration of a potentially noxious substance.

There are no circumstances in which sodium chlorite or bleach, sometimes described as Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), enemas should be used as a treatment to cure autism. We have been clear that MMS, or similar or related compounds, have no proven or conceivable health benefit and can cause serious damage to health, particularly in the case of children.

Where there is any threat to the safety and wellbeing of a child, this may lead to offences of child cruelty being considered, requiring a wider safeguarding response involving the police, children's services and relevant partners. Such a threat could include any harm caused by the administration of a potentially noxious substance. Each case would be judged on its merits.

The Department has received a limited amount of correspondence in relation to the use of bleach enemas as a treatment to cure autism.

There are no circumstances in which sodium chlorite or bleach, sometimes described as Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), enemas should be used as a treatment to cure autism. We have been clear that MMS, or similar or related compounds, have no proven or conceivable health benefit and can cause serious damage to health, particularly in the case of children.

Where there is any threat to the safety and wellbeing of a child, this may lead to offences of child cruelty being considered, requiring a wider safeguarding response involving the police, children's services and relevant partners. Such a threat could include any harm caused by the administration of a potentially noxious substance. Each case would be judged on its merits.

The Department has received a limited amount of correspondence in relation to the use of bleach enemas as a treatment to cure autism.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued advice that Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) is not safe and should not be sold for human consumption. It has been working with local authorities across the country to share knowledge, investigate and disrupt the sale of MMS and other similar products.

The FSA’s National Food Crime Unit has secured the removal of MMS products from major marketplace websites, and has shared information internationally through the National Crime Agency, alerting authorities in specific countries to the risks relating to known proponents of the use of MMS in this manner.

Therefore, the Government has no plans to bring forward legislation in this area.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued advice that Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) is not safe and should not be sold as a supplement. It has been working with local authorities across the country to share knowledge, investigate and disrupt the sale of MMS and other similar products.

Further activity is being conducted with the support of the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and with the involvement of the FSA’s National Food Crime Unit. This activity is ongoing and it would not be appropriate to comment in detail.

However, the FSA has secured the removal of MMS products from some major marketplace websites, and it has shared information internationally through the National Crime Agency, alerting authorities in other countries to planned seminars at which the use of MMS is promoted.

The Department is aware of the development of sodium chlorite being marketed as Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) as a cure for autism. MMS is not a cure for autism.

The Food Standards Agency has issued advice previously, first in 2010, that MMS is not safe and should not be sold as a supplement. Since then it has been working with local authorities across the country to share knowledge, and to investigate and prevent the sale of MMS and similar products.

The Department is responsible for policy on this issue; however, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) oversees the co-ordination of local authority enforcement action.

Following recent reports of seminars promoting the use of Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), the FSA has reinforced awareness amongst local authorities of the dangers of consuming these products and issued a reminder to them that such products are not fit for sale. The FSA has requested all local authorities to report any instances they discover of the promotion or sale of MMS and will continue to gather and develop intelligence with the support of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and engagement with European Union member states.

The FSA also plans to provide further advice to local authorities on the most appropriate legislation for action to be taken on MMS, and will provide support for any enforcement action that is taken.

The police do not routinely record cases of the administration of chlorine dioxide to children nor are records collected centrally. Chlorine dioxide is not an illegal substance but it can be harmful especially if consumed and particularly in the case of children.

This may lead to offences of child cruelty being considered, requiring a wider safeguarding response. If the police become aware of a threat to the safety and wellbeing of a child they would investigate in partnership with children’s services and relevant partners and consider the best course of action. Such a threat could include any harm caused by the administration of a potentially noxious substance. Each case would be judged on its merits.

Chlorine dioxide is not an illegal substance. However, it can be harmful especially if consumed and particularly in the case of children. The police are required to investigate any threat to the safety and wellbeing of a child. This includes any harm caused by the administration of a potentially noxious substance.

Local authorities have made the Food Standards Agency (FSA) aware of a number of cases where chlorine dioxide has been marketed for sale as “Miracle Mineral Solution” (MMS). The FSA is working with the Department, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and local authorities to investigate these cases and protect the public.

The FSA along with the Department and MHRA are joining together to highlight and warn consumers of the dangers of consumption of these products. The FSA has worked hard to raise awareness of the dangers of MMS through its communications channels and has previously warned the public about this product on its website at:

http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2012/5206/cdswarning

The National Crime Agency is not investigating the sale of chlorine dioxide. It is not a controlled drug under drugs precursor chemicals legislation. The safety of food supplements is covered by general food law and therefore it must be safe and not cause injury.

Local authorities have made the Food Standards Agency (FSA) aware of a number of cases where chlorine dioxide has been marketed for sale as “Miracle Mineral Solution” (MMS). The FSA is working with the Department, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and local authorities to investigate these cases and protect the public.

The FSA along with the Department and MHRA are joining together to highlight and warn consumers of the dangers of consumption of these products. The FSA has worked hard to raise awareness of the dangers of MMS through its communications channels and has previously warned the public about this product on its website at:

http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2012/5206/cdswarning

The National Crime Agency is not investigating the sale of chlorine dioxide. It is not a controlled drug under drugs precursor chemicals legislation. The safety of food supplements is covered by general food law and therefore it must be safe and not cause injury.

Local authorities have made the Food Standards Agency (FSA) aware of a number of cases where chlorine dioxide has been marketed for sale as “Miracle Mineral Solution” (MMS). The FSA is working with the Department, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and local authorities to investigate these cases and protect the public.

The FSA along with the Department and MHRA are joining together to highlight and warn consumers of the dangers of consumption of these products. The FSA has worked hard to raise awareness of the dangers of MMS through its communications channels and has previously warned the public about this product on its website at:

http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2012/5206/cdswarning

The National Crime Agency is not investigating the sale of chlorine dioxide. It is not a controlled drug under drugs precursor chemicals legislation. The safety of food supplements is covered by general food law and therefore it must be safe and not cause injury.