Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop condemned by NHS head for promoting products ‘carrying considerable risks to health’

Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow‘s lifestyle brand, has been criticised by the head of the NHS for promoting treatments that can be detrimental to health.

The criticism comes following the release of The Goop Lab on Netflix, a television programme produced and hosted by Paltrow, which sees the actor explore a variety of wellness issues and treatments.

On Thursday, while delivering a speech at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, highlighted the “dubious wellness products and dodgy procedures” that are available for consumers online.

Sir Simon stressed that the speed at which inaccurate health claims can be spread on the internet has put “myths and misinformation on steroids”.

“Fresh from controversies over jade eggs and unusually scented candles, Goop has just popped up with a new TV series, in which Gwyneth Paltrow and her team test vampire facials and back a ‘bodyworker’ who claims to cure both acute psychological trauma and side effects by simply moving his hands two inches above a customer’s body,” Sir Simon stated.

“Gwyneth Paltrow’s brand peddles ‘psychic vampire repellant’; says ‘chemical sunscreen is a bad idea’; and promotes colonic irrigation and DIY coffee enema machines, despite them carrying considerable risks to health and NHS advice clearly stating that there is ‘no scientific evidence to suggest there are any health benefits associated with colonic irrigation’.”

Sir Simon expressed concern over the distance “fake news” can spread across the globe.

“While fake news used to travel by word of mouth – and later the Caxton press – we all know that lies and misinformation can now be round the world at the touch of a button – before the truth has reached for its socks never mind got its boots on,” he said.

“Myths and misinformation have been put on steroids by the availability of misleading claims online.”

Sir Simon added that while “fake news” is typically associated with politics, in recent times it has become increasingly affiliated with health.

“People’s natural concern for their health, and particularly that of their loved ones, makes this particularly fertile ground for quacks, charlatans, and cranks,” he said.

In a statement sent to The Independent, Goop said it “takes efficacy and product claims very seriously.”

“With the editorial and commercial aspects of our business, we sometimes approach different topics from different points of view. On the editorial side, we are transparent when we cover emerging topics that may be unsupported by science or may be in early stages of review,” the company stated.

“When products are available for retail sale, we have a robust legal and compliance team that works closely with our science and research group to vet product claims. We are proud of our procedures and internal protocols and we are constantly evolving to ensure our approach is best in class.

“We applaud the important work that NHS does, and often take our cues from the UK standard. For example, in the case of chemical sunscreens that the NHS cited in their speech, the US bans only 11 personal care ingredients while over 1,000 are banned in the UK. It’s for that reason we recommend non-toxic sunscreens.”

In September 2018, it was reported that Goop had agreed to pay a settlement of more than £100,000 after making unscientific claims about the health benefits of vaginal eggs.

To read what The Independent thought of Paltrow’s The Goop Lab, click here.