The Commerce Commission is warning alternative health providers they could face prosecution if they make claims their products can cure food allergies.
The commission has investigated the industry after a complaint from allergy groups that some alternative health providers use methods they say cure allergies, but are not medically accepted.
The commission's competition manager says people claiming to diagnose and cure food allergies could be breaching the Fair Trading Act.
Greg Allan said there could be significant health risks if people eat the item that causes their allergy on the basis of the health providers' claims.
People could be at risk of anaphylactic shock or may fail to seek medically accepted treatments for their allergies, he said.
The commission expects alternative health providers to review how they market their products.
