Disease Claims

Industry on notice as FTC probes social media, video streaming platforms

17-Mar-2023 By Danielle Masterson

The Commission calls out disease prevention ads, weight-loss products and MLMs as it investigates the inner workings of social media and its function in deceptive online advertising.

FTC goes after doTERRA distributors for making unfounded COVID-19 cure claims

06-Mar-2023 By Danielle Masterson

The United States obtained permanent injunctions and civil penalties in actions against essential oils and dietary supplements distributors.

FTC seeks injunction against marketer of vitamin/mineral supplement

05-Dec-2022 By Hank Schultz

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a request for a permanent injunction against a dietary supplement marketer that allegedly made repeated claims to treat COVID-19 via a vitamin/mineral product.

MLM moves to quickly expunge disease claims after advertising challenge

05-Dec-2022 By Hank Schultz

A multi-level marketing firm that sells dietary supplements responded quickly to remove non compliant disease claims when challenged by an industry watchdog group.

Colorado firm cited for plethora of disease claims

30-Nov-2022 By Hank Schultz

A warning letter issued to a Colorado-based supplement distributor points out the dangers of unguarded language used on supplemental websites.

FDA warns seven companies over cardiovascular disease claims

18-Nov-2022 By Hank Schultz

Seven companies have been warned by the US Food and Drug Administration over claims of treating cardiovascular disease, the Agency announced yesterday.

Young Living warning letter points to need among MLMs to have plan to police language used by distributors

20-Jul-2022 By Hank Schultz

A warning letter sent to Young Living, a multi level marketing company specializing in essential oils, underscores the importance of having a social media monitoring program in place to avoid running afoul of regulators.

California MLM agrees to police disease claims made by associates

15-Apr-2022 By Hank Schultz

A California-based MLM has agreed to remove disease treatment claims made by associates after a challenge from a self regulation group.

Tahitian Noni marketer dinged for disease claims and earnings promises

21-Mar-2022 By Hank Schultz

A network marketing watchdog program has recommended that a distributor of noni-based products cease making certain disease treatment and earnings claims.

FTC adds to repeat offender’s rap sheet with disease claims consent decree

21-Mar-2022 By Hank Schultz

The Federal Trade Commission has permanently banned two Texas firms from making diabetes and pain relief claims on the dietary supplements that they market. Kramer Duhon, the firms’ principal, has a long history of fines and enforcement actions against...

Stress: What can you claim on a product label?

17-Mar-2022 By Danielle Masterson

According to the 2021 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, 16% of dietary supplement users said they turned to supplements for mental health support (e.g. anxiety, depression, stress management).

Saffron supplement marketer dinged for wide ranging disease claims

01-Dec-2021 By Hank Schultz

The marketer of a trio of saffron products has received an FDA warning letter citing numerous alleged impermissible disease claims.

FDA takes Quicksilver Scientific to task over alleged disease claims in blog posts

10-Nov-2021 By Hank Schultz

A warning letter sent to prominent firm Quicksilver Scientific points to how narrow the margin between acceptable language and an alleged disease claim can be, one legal expert says.

FDA warns Arizona firm over numerous alleged disease claims

06-Oct-2021 By Hank Schultz

An Arizona supplement marketer has been warned by FDA over claims relating to blood sugar management, stress relief, immunity and more.

Five firms swept up in FDA/FTC fertility claims enforcement action

27-May-2021 By Hank Schultz

FDA and FTC have warned five companies selling dietary supplements over claims their products could help consumers with infertility and pregnancy problems.

Pharmacists now being snared in COVID-19 disease claims net

21-Sep-2020 By Hank Schultz

FDA has now widened its Covid-19 warning letter net to include pharmacists as well as other health care providers and dietary supplement manufacturers and marketers.

FTC hits marketer with lawsuit over pricey ‘FDA accepted’ COVID-19 ‘treatment’ plan

04-Aug-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The Federal Trade Commission charged Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Inc. with deceptively advertising an ‘Emergency D-Virus’ treatment as a scientifically proven way to treat COVID-19. The company even went as far as claiming their treatment was ‘FDA accepted.’

NutraCast Podcast: CSPI’s Laura MacCleery on ‘antiviral' supplements in the marketplace

04-Aug-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Over 70% of Americans take dietary supplements, and by now, most consumers have probably noticed the disclaimer that says "This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”

FTC steps up virus claims enforcement while CSPI wants more done about Amazon sales

05-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

The prevalence of virus-treatment claims in the marketplace has made for both heightened enforcement from federal regulators and calls for even more action from an advocacy group regarding products sold on Amazon.

Judge slaps permanent injunction on New York ‘bush doctors’

02-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

A judge has approved a permanent injunction order against the principals of a dietary supplement company who allegedly repeatedly ignored FDA warnings and inspection findings on illegal disease claims and other violations.

FTC nails 10 MLMs for illegal disease treatment, earnings claims related to coronavirus crisis

27-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The US Federal Trade Commission has sent 10 warning letters to network marketing companies whose participants it alleges have been making illegal COVID-19 treatment claims and earnings claims related to the pandemic crisis.

Trade groups ask retailers not to stock products making coronavirus claims

07-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

A coalition of dietary supplement industry trade associations have come out in support of FDA actions against fraudulent coronavirus treatment claims and have urged retailers to not stock products with such claims on their labels.

From the editor's desk

Supplement industry can win with emphasis on safety, clapping lid on disease claims

03-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The dietary supplement industry has an opportunity to communicate with a new range of consumers in light of the current crisis. Highlighting the excellent safety of the products and quality initiatives underway can help keep the embarrassment of rampant...

From the editor's desk

With extreme care on messaging, immune support products might play role in COVID-19 crisis

13-Mar-2020 By Hank Schultz

As the news about COVID-19 becomes ever more sobering, the question becomes what dietary supplements might do to help. I think there is opportunity here, but talking about it requires walking a tightrope over a gulf of regulatory peril.

NPA urges FDA to be proactive on potenial coronavirus fraud

28-Jan-2020 By Hank Schultz

The Natural Products Association has attempted to get out ahead of a potential issue for the industry by asking federal authorities to monitor dietary supplement companies claiming to treat coronavirus infections.

FDA cites noni producer for long list of disease claims

15-Aug-2018 By Hank Schultz

Another company selling noni products has run afoul of rules on disease claims, and has received a warning letter from FDA.