Advertising Firm Barred from Assisting in the Marketing and Sale of Weight-Loss Supplements Deceptively Pitched to Consumers

Marketing Architects, Inc. (MAI), an advertising agency that created and disseminated allegedly deceptive radio ads for weight-loss products marketed by its client, Direct Alternatives, has agreed to pay $2 million to the Federal Trade Commission and State of Maine Attorney General’s Office to settle their complaint. The complaint cites a history of creating similar claims […]

FTC, FDA Warn Companies about Marketing and Selling Opioid Cessation Products

The Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today posted warning letters to 11 marketers and distributors of opioid cessation products for illegally marketing products with unproven claims about their ability to help in the treatment of opioid addiction and withdrawal. “Opioid addiction is a serious health epidemic that affects millions […]

Marketers Barred from Making Deceptive Claims about Products’ Ability to Mitigate Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

CellMark Biopharma, LLC and its CEO have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they made false or unsupported claims regarding two health products they marketed as effective treatments for cancer patients’ malnutrition and “chemo fog,” or treatment-related cognitive dysfunction. According to the Commission’s complaint, CellMark and its CEO, Derek E. Vest, violated the […]

Supplement Sellers Settle FTC, State of Maine False Advertising Charges

A health products company and its owner have agreed to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Maine that they deceived consumers with promises that their products could treat everything from arthritis to memory loss. The proposed federal court order announced today bars the defendants from engaging in a wide range […]

U.S. District Court Rules in FTC’s Favor, Imposes $40 Million Judgment Against Weight-Loss Supplement Marketers for Order Violations

 A federal district judge in Atlanta has issued an order finding several defendants, including repeat offender Jared Wheat, in contempt for violating previous court orders related to the sale of weight-loss dietary supplements. The order imposes a more than $40 million judgment against the defendants, part or all of which the Federal Trade Commission may […]

Three Dietary Supplement Marketers Settle FTC, Maine AG Charges

The final three of nine defendants sued for deceptively marketing dietary supplements will settle charges the FTC and the State of Maine filed in February 2017. The agencies charged the defendants with using deceptively formatted radio infomercials and print ads with fictitious endorsers to pitch products they claimed would improve memory and reduce back and […]

FTC, New York State Charge the Marketers of Prevagen With Making Deceptive Memory, Cognitive Improvement Claims

The Federal Trade Commission and New York State Attorney General have charged the marketers of the dietary supplement Prevagen with making false and unsubstantiated claims that the product improves memory, provides cognitive benefits, and is “clinically shown” to work. The extensive national advertising campaign for Prevagen, including TV spots on national broadcast and cable networks […]

FTC Rules California Naturel, Inc. Misled Consumers, Violated the FTC Act

The Federal Trade Commission has granted summary decision against California Naturel, Inc., for falsely advertising its sunscreen product as “all natural” in violation of Sections 5 and 12 of the FTC Act. In its opinion, written by Chairwoman Edith Ramirez, the Commission states that the company promotes its “all natural” sunscreen on its website as […]

Marketers of Joint Pain Supplement Agree to Settle FTC Charges of Deceptive Advertising, Endorsements

The sellers of Supple, a glucosamine and chondroitin liquid supplement, have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they falsely advertised that their product provided complete relief from chronic and severe joint pain caused by arthritis and fibromyalgia and was scientifically proven to eliminate joint pain. “Companies need solid scientific evidence to back up […]

FTC Wins Summary Judgment against Marketers of Supplement That Claimed To Prevent or Reverse Gray Hair

A U.S. district court judge has ruled that COORGA Nutraceuticals Corporation and its principal Garfield Coore violated the law by claiming their “Grey Defence” dietary supplements reversed or prevented gray hair. The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint challenging the claims as unfounded in May 2015. Based on this ruling, the court has issued a […]