The Garland County sheriff's office said Tuesday that children taken from a county home earlier this month were removed because of allegations of child abuse and neglect, not just because of a "miracle mineral supplement" being present at the residence as reported by some media outlets.
According to a news release, the sheriff's office responded to a Treasure Isle Road home Jan. 9 because of information provided by two concerned residents who are familiar with the family living there.
Multiple agencies responded to the residence, and after an on-site investigation, the decision was made that the children "were at risk of serious harm due to a number of different factors," the news release said.
The sheriff's office said reports made by "various media outlets" that the decision to remove the children was based on the contributing factor of a chemical known as "MMS," or "miracle mineral supplement," were "absolutely false."
In an October 2010 consumer update, the Food and Drug Administration described the supplement sold over the Internet as "dangerous" and warned consumers not to drink the product as it "becomes a potent chemical that's used as a bleach when mixed according to package directions."
The investigation is ongoing. The sheriff's office in the release encouraged the public "not to try this case in social media or the public in general, as it could affect the minor children involved," and added that the sheriff's office "firmly [stood] behind this decision to protect the children involved."
Metro on 01/21/2015