Amazon pulls MMS “bleach cure” books

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Amazon has removed more than a dozen books promoting a type of toxic bleach proponents call "MMS" as a cure for illnesses including autism and malaria, a spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider Wednesday.

The move comes as internet companies come under increasing pressure to act against anti-vaccination conspiracy theorists and those promoting quack cures on their platforms.

Recently, Business Insider exposed a huge network of MMS advocates promoting the substance on YouTube, leading to the removal of hundreds of videos and channels.

NBC News first reported the removal of the titles from Amazon on Tuesday.

The outlet reported that the titles removed contained instructions on how to mix component chemicals to create what advocates call Miracle Mineral Solution, or MMS.

The mixture in reality creates chlorine dioxide, a form of industrial bleach. The US Food and Drug Administration warns that MMS has no medical benefits, and causes nausea, severe dehydration and vomiting if ingested in large doses.

The removal marks a shift in position from Amazon, which was contacted as long ago as March about the pro-MMS content for sale on its platform.

Amazon has been accused of being slow to remove harmful medical misinformation from its platform.

Amazon declined to explain the book removals in depth to Business Insider. It did not say whether they were part of a wider effort to remove medical misinformation from the platform.

The site in March referred Wired to its public guidelines for book publishers, which state that "as a bookseller, we provide our customers with access to a variety of viewpoints, including books that some customers may find objectionable."

"That said, we reserve the right not to sell certain content, such as pornography or other inappropriate content."