FTC settles with companies over unproved weight-loss claims
January 4, 2007
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The marketers of four weight-control pills have agreed to pay a total of at least $25 million to settle allegations of deceptive advertising, the Federal Trade Commission announced Thursday
The four are Xenadrine EFX, CortiSlim, TrimSpa and One-A-Day WeightSmart.
The FTC alleged that the companies' weight-loss and weight-control claims were not supported by evidence.
The companies also agreed to limit their advertising claims.
"You won't find weight loss in a bottle of pills that claims it has the latest scientific breakthrough or miracle ingredient," said FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras in a written statement. "Paying for fad science is a good way to lose cash, not pounds."
The money will be used for refunds, said FTC spokeswoman Jacqueline Dizdul. "They give back their ill-gotten gains," she said.
She said it was not surprising that many people were seduced into buying the products. Professionally produced advertisements ran in major magazines. In addition, "I think everyone holds out hope that there is a quick and easy way of doing things," she said.
The FTC! Who woulda thought? Whoever can go after these liars, more power to them. The FDA late last year also announced that they were going to review a whole slew of BS over the counter products that don't do anything, too, (like "cold" remedies, cough syrup, etc. etc).
Scientific research, while not 100% flawless, at least tries hard to be honest. ALWAYS avoid products based on "testimonials"
mm
