Meta Runs Hundreds Of Ads Promoting Deadly 'Frog Poison' Kambo On Facebook And Instagram

Meta is earning revenue from adverts on Facebook and Instagram that promote Kambo, a controversial frog-derived detox ritual linked to several deaths. Investigations show hundreds of targeted adverts aimed at UK users are marketing Kambo as part of “healing” retreats and training courses.

UK Fatality Spurs Calls For Action

Last week The Telegraph reported that Kristian Trend, a 40-year-old wellness coach, died after participating in a Kambo ceremony in Leicester — believed to be the first recorded UK fatality associated with the treatment. His death has prompted calls from MPs for the sale and provision of Kambo to be reviewed or banned in Britain.

Kambo is made from the skin secretions of a giant leaf frog - Gino Tuesta/iStockphoto

What Is Kambo?

Kambo is derived from the dried secretions of the giant leaf frog and originates from Amazonian tribal medicine. In modern ceremonies the substance is typically applied to small burns on the skin. The treatment provokes intense vomiting or ‘‘purging,’’ which proponents say cleanses the body.

Health Risks And International Bans

Medical authorities have linked Kambo to multiple deaths around the world. The substance is banned for sale in countries including Brazil, Chile and Australia. Australian officials warn of a small risk of seizures and death even at limited doses; other documented dangers include ruptured oesophagus from severe vomiting, a life-threatening emergency.

Kambo is administered to small blisters - GummyBone/iStockphoto

Experts’ Warnings: Prof Penelope Ward of King’s College London said: "Healers supplying this product seem to be ignorant of its potential harms and may be placing their customers at risk. It would seem appropriate for this product to be properly investigated with a view to considering whether its use should be banned." Alastair Hay, emeritus professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, warned the active chemicals in Kambo can be up to 40 times more potent than morphine and that variable dosing and administration practices increase the risk of fatalities.

Advertising On Meta Platforms

Reporters found more than 570 adverts promoting Kambo targeted at UK users, with around a dozen active at the time of publication. Many adverts promote Kambo as part of retreats promising help with "navigating mental health challenges, addiction recovery, [and] trauma healing," or advertise training courses aimed at so-called "high-performers".

Meta’s advertising policies prohibit adverts that promote illicit drugs or "other potentially unsafe drugs, products or supplements," but the company says enforcement is at its discretion. A Meta spokesperson told reporters the company prohibits selling banned drugs on its apps and uses proactive detection technology alongside human reviewers to remove policy-violating adverts, and that it regularly reviews its policies.

Regulatory Context

In the UK, Kambo is not a licensed medicine and is not currently classified as a controlled drug. The Advertising Standards Authority has warned that adverts appearing to condone illegal drug use are likely to be judged irresponsible. Under the Online Safety Act, posts offering to supply illegal drugs are classed as priority illegal content.

What Happens Next? The combination of a UK fatality and widespread online advertising has intensified calls for regulators to act — both to restrict the sale and practice of Kambo and to press platforms such as Meta to tighten enforcement of their advertising rules.