Truth in Advertising: The Airborne Case
The Airborne company has fined $30 million by the Federal Trade Commission for false advertising, namely claiming Airborne can help reduce the length of a common cold. The makers of Airborne tablets have agreed to pay $30 million to settle the lawsuit.
What is Airborne?
According to the Airborne Company’s website:
Airborne is a dietary supplement that was created by a school teacher. Airborne is a proprietary combination of 17 vitamins, minerals and herbs.
The key ingredients in Airborne have been shown to help support a healthy immune system as shown in scientific studies and medical journals.
Airborne was created by Victoria Knight-McDowell, a second-grade teacher who got tired of catching colds from her students.
She started selling the product in 1997, three after Congress voted to allow dietary supplement makers to claim their products have an effect on a body structure or function, such as the immune system. Claiming to cure or treat illnesses requires FDA approval.
No Tangible Evidence to Support the Claims
Lydia Parnes, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection said that “There is no credible evidence that Airborne products . . . will reduce the severity or duration of colds, or provide any tangible benefit for people who are exposed to germs in crowded places.”
Consumers who bought Airborne products between 2001 and 2008 have until Sept. 15 to apply for a refund for as many as six purchases, the FTC said. Claims will be paid by Oct. 15, 2008.
The FTC action adds $6.5 million to a previous class action settlement in which Airborne agreed to pay $23.5 million in customer refunds and attorney fees.
When I looked for Airborne on Amazon, the ‘Immune Boosting’ formulas were listed as being currently unavailable, but they had a whole host of other options, including a formula for children.
Add comment August 16th, 2008
