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Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission finalized the Order settling charges against Beiersdorf, Inc. for falsely claiming that regular use of its Nivea My Silhouette! skin cream can significantly reduce users’ body size. The company also agreed to pay $900,000 as part of the settlement. Under the final Order, Beiersdorf may not claim that any product applied to the skin causes substantial weight or fat loss or a substantial reduction in body size; that any drug, dietary supplement, or cosmetic causes weight or fat loss or a reduction in body size, unless the claim is backed by two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical studies; or that any drug, dietary supplement, or cosmetic has health benefits, unless the claim is backed by valid scientific evidence.

The proposed administrative settlement was announced on June 29, 2011.

The Commission vote approving the final Order was 5-0.  (File No. 0923194; the staff contacts are Evan Rose or Matthew Gold, Western Region, San Francisco, 415-848-5100.)

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.  To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).  The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.  Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.