In fact these were false claims. The FDA said there was no any evidence that the false claims about spirulina is efficient as an appetite suppressant. The amount of proteins produced by spirulina is negligible. Thus, we see that facts about spirulina were false claims.
In 1982 it was proclaimed that spirulina products were efficient for weight control and helpful for treating anemia, ulcers, diabetes and liver disease. They also said that the plant was good at boosting immunity, suppressing appetite and increasing energy. It was also claimed that spirulina was a "superfood" and "works to detoxify and cleanse the body". But these, most likely, were false claims as well.
In 1982 they began to sell Blue Green Manna products claiming them to be efficient for curing different diseases. In 1983 the FDA began a trial to stop the trading but the products marketing did not stop. The trial gave an injunction to stop manufacturing, distributing and selling the plants because after some investigation the trial found out that its value as a nutrient was negligible. Besides, blue-green algae were very expensive comparing to other sources of the same nutrient.
In 1985 the judge forbade to sell the misbranded and unapproved new drugs. He even issued an injunction against their sale. But in a year it was known that more than 2,500 people were distributing Manna products proclaiming them to be therapeutic remedies which contradicted the injunction. It was also reported that hundreds of distributors had written or telephoned with claims that either they or the members of their families were cured from different diseases such as heart trouble, allergies, and lack of sex drive, alcoholism, Alzheimer 's disease, skin disturbances, prostate problems and emotional problems.
In 1986 upon trial the defendants of the plants argued because other algal products were allowed to sell as food or food supplements. So, their demand was to let them sell the microscopic plants as well. Though the demands were denied people believing the previously made claims continued using them.
In spite of the judge's ban to sell Manna products, another company, Cell Tech, began their distribution. They claimed that their products, Super Blue Green, by means of balancing nutritional levels could provide both body and spirit with ingredients which increase energy, dietary control, mental clarity and feelings of overall well-being. So, they could help people cope with different stresses.
Cell Tech has always claimed that their products were not aimed at treating diseases. In spite of this a lot of distributors advertised them as therapeutic remedies both al health expositions and in private sales pitches to prospective customers. In 2003 a California judge stated that about 30 claims about the product were false and that is why he ordered the company to stop producing them.
After a number of researches, Health Canada recommends that children should not be given blue-green algae until they are not proven to be harmless. Because of the lower body weight, children can develop serious diseases from blue-green algae products which contain elevated levels of microcystins. Especially this risk increases when the products are taken for a long time.