MMS, or Miracle Mineral Solution, is quackery of the worst order. The name was invented by US entrepreneur Jim Humble who claims it helped him recover from a bad bout of malaria in South America.

MMS is not approved for the treatment of any disease anywhere in the world and, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, chronic exposure to small doses of chlorine dioxide could cause damage to brain development.

In the UK, It falls to the Food Standards Authority (FSA) to police the product as it is classified as a food supplement. It first warned in 2010 of the threat from MMS, telling people to consult their doctors if they had consumed it and felt unwell. The product could cause severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, potentially leading to dehydration and reduced blood pressure. If the solution was diluted less than instructed, it could damage the gut and red blood cells.

A similar product known as Chlorine Dioxide Solution (CDS) should also be avoided.