NAD refers prostate supplement ad to FTC, FDA
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
The National Advertising Division refers advertising for the prostate health supplement Prostalex Plus to the Federal Trade Commission and FDA after the marketer, Herbal Groups, declined to participate in the Better Business Bureaus' review process. NAD requested substantiation for claims that the "all-natural supplement" would "solve your urination problems, improve prostate function" and combat the natural growth of the prostate. It also was concerned that "the Prostate Health Blog" linked on the advertiser's Web site is not independently written as it appears, but is advertising. The firm submitted a study on Prostalex, but declined to participate in the review process, NAD said in a May 5 release. The watchdog group, which rarely refers advertisers to enforcement agencies, has referred six companies to regulators this year (1"The Tan Sheet" Feb. 16, 2009, p. 19)