BBC pulls Dragons' Den episode following concerns
A recent episode of Dragons' Den has been pulled from BBC iPlayer following criticism of a pitched product featured.
An episode aired on January 18 saw entrepreneur Giselle Boxer gain offers from each of the programme's six Dragons for her product 'Acu Seeds', which she claimed aided her recovery from ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), a life-changing condition with symptoms including fatigue, muscle and joint pain, brain fog and headaches.
The NHS website entry on ME/CFS notes there is "currently no cure", but "there are treatments that may help you manage the condition".
A BBC statement to The Mirror confirmed: "We're taking the concerns raised seriously, so we are reviewing the episode and therefore it's currently not available on iPlayer."
Following its transmission, the Dragons' Den episode received widespread criticism both from those living with ME and charities supporting people with the condition.
Related: Why Dragons' Den's latest episode was so damaging
Several organisations wrote an open letter to the chairs of two government committees setting out their concerns, stating: "Given the episode in question was aired during prime time on BBC One, we worry that a larger audience will have heard this pitch which amounts to an unfounded claim that this form of alternative medicine can cure M.E."
In a previous statement, a BBC spokesperson said: "Dragons' Den features products from entrepreneurs and is not an endorsement of them. Dragons' Den shows real businesses pitching to investors to lift the lid on what happens in the business world.
"This episode features an entrepreneur sharing their own, personal experience that led to a business creation."
Acu Seeds – the product pitched – are described as a "DIY needle-free ear acupuncture for anxiety, migraines, hormonal issues, insomnia, weight loss and more".
On the product's website, the footer of a blog entry explaining what ear seeds are notes: "This product is not used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition."
Since the episode aired, Boxer has told The Mirror that she "never said the ear seeds are a cure".
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Dr Charles Shepard, Hon Medical Advisor for the ME Association said: "The way in which Dragons' Den has been used to promote an unproven treatment for ME/CFS has, not surprisingly, caused a great deal of upset and concern in the ME patient community.
"People with ME/CFS are fed up with the way in which products like this are regularly being promoted when there is no sound evidence from proper placebo-controlled clinical trials to confirm that they are safe and effective.
"These sort of expensive commercial products and devices should not be promoted to very vulnerable sick people until they have been properly assessed for safety and efficacy in clinical trials – in exactly the same way that drug treatments are."
Dragons' Den airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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