NAD reviews weight-loss supplement
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Artis Marketing says it will discontinue and modify advertising claims for its SlimForce7 weight-loss product following a recommendation by the National Advertising Division and referral to the Federal Trade Commission. The division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus found insufficient evidence to support the claim the product is a "treatment aimed at all those who can't seem to lose all the weight they want to lose," among other claims. NAD recommended the Toronto-based company discontinue testimonials and claims suggesting the product, made of six fruits and one algae, will result in weight loss regardless of diet and exercise. NAD's review of SlimForce7 follows a previous attempt to review claims for the product, after which the watchdog was unable to contact the advertiser and referred it to FTC, FDA and relevant Canadian agencies (1"The Tan Sheet" Aug. 17, 2009, In Brief). Subsequently, Artis agreed to participate in the review process, noting it permanently discontinued the original ads and modified many claims at issue. However, NAD found many of the modified claims presented similar concerns
You may also be interested in...
CCA Industries settles Mega-T suit
The marketer of Mega-T brand weight-loss supplements sets aside $2.5 million to distribute among consumers who purchased Mega-T brand products between Sept. 29, 2005, and June 9, 2010. The Common Fund settles a class action lawsuit brought by Denise Wally in California's Superior Court for Los Angeles County. Wally alleged the firm falsely advertised that the supplements would "reduce food cravings," help consumers "lose up to 20 lbs" and enable consumers to burn belly fat without diet or exercise. Consumers who bought any of the supplements in the settlement, including Mega-T Ultra, Mega-T Plus, Mega-T Effervescent, Mega-T Green Tea dietary supplement and Mega-T Dietary Supplement products, could receive up to $60 or more if they submit a claim form. CCA Industries does not admit any guilt or wrongdoing in the settlement. FTC often penalizes weight-loss product makers for claiming products help consumers lose weight without exercise (1"The Tan Sheet" Feb. 22, 2010, In Brief)
NAD alerts FDA, FTC to SlimForce 7 ad
After failing to reach Toronto-based SlimForce 7, which markets a weight-loss product as a supplement under the same name, the Council of Better Business Bureaus unit refers the firm to FDA, the Federal Trade Commission and the Competition Bureau of Canada. NAD said Aug. 10 that a magazine ad claims SlimForce 7 "is a treatment aimed at all those who can't lose weight," enables loss of 11 pounds in one week and modifies the body's metabolism. The claims qualify as "too good to be true" under FTC's reference guide for bogus weight-loss claims (1"The Tan Sheet" Dec. 15, 2003). NAD said SlimForce 7 did not respond to multiple communication attempts
Kenvue Breaks Ground On New Headquarters, Appoints Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
Firm hosts groundbreaking for 290,000 square-foot global headquarters it’s having built in Summit, NJ, starting with 100,000 square-foot science and innovation and expected to open in 2025. It announced adding Russell Dyer as chief corporate affairs officer starting 13 March.