Spiritual Forum

AUBURN, CA - The Food and Drug Administration is seeking a court order to seize dozens of ozone-generating machines manufactured andsold by an Auburn company.

In the FDA's complaint filed Wednesday in Sacramento federal court, the FDA said Applied OzoneSystems claims its ozone generators will treat a variety of illnessesand ailments, from cancer and AIDS to genital warts.

The FDA wants to seize the roughly 80 ozone generators it believes the company has in its inventory, valued at more than $75,000.  Theagency claims the machines not only have no proven therapeutic value,but that they could actually harm users.

Company owner Chuck Ankeney, 64, said the machines are used to sanitize water in colonic procedures.  He said he's been selling themfor 16 years with no reports of ill effects.

Ankeney said he removed any references to health benefits from his Applied Ozone Systems Web site after initial complaints from the FDA and state regulators.  He said hisbusiness collapsed last month after state food and drug agents arrivedwith an inspection warrant and slapped stickers on the equipmentprohibiting its sale.

Ankeney said he doesn't have an attorney to fight the government and that his next move will be to shut down the business at the end ofFebruary. 

"I'm tired of this. I don't want them breathing down my neck anymore," Ankeney said.

A call to an FDA representative in Washington was not immediately returned.