CRN's FTC Enforcement Action Compilation
The purpose of this compilation is to provide information about and access to dietary supplement—and functional food-related enforcement actions issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). CRN publishes this web page as a service to its members and for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for legal advice, and CRN cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Please visit the FTC’s website at www.ftc.gov for additional information about FTC and its enforcement efforts. Please consult professional legal counsel with any specific questions or for legal advice regarding the information published on this website.
Search via the fields provided below or scroll/page through to browse cases. Click here to download compilation as PDF.
Date of Decision:
Company:
i-Health, Inc.; Martek Biosciences Corporation
Product: BrainStrong Adult
Product Category:
- Cognitive Health
- Memory
Last Action:
Prohibited from making cognitive decline or memory unless supported by randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled human clinical testing / Prohibits claims about the health benefits, performance, safety, or effectiveness unless substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence / Prohibited from misrepresenting a claim is clinically proven
Additional Information:
All underlying or supporting data must be preserved and made available to FTC for inspection / Recordkeeping and compliance monitoring required
Number:
Date of Decision:
Company:
7 Day Marketing, Inc.,
Product: 7 Day Miracle Cleanse Program
Product Category:
- Weight-Loss
Last Action:
$14 million judgment / Banned from any involvement in infomercials for any product, program, or service, and, from representing that any product, program, or service can cure, treat, or prevent any disease or provide health benefits (representations made in books, newsletters, or other informational publications exempted) / Barred from misrepresenting any test or study
Additional Information:
Judgment suspended due to inability to pay unless financial status is proven inaccurate
Number:
Date of Decision:
Company:
7734956 Canada Inc., dba Meilleuers Sélections Du Globe, also dba Freedom Center Against Obesity / Manon Fernet
Product: Double Shot
Product Category:
- Weight-Loss
Last Action:
Banned from offering for sale, selling, or distributing, any weight-loss product / Prohibited from making health benefit or efficacy claims without competent and reliable scientific evidence / Prohibited from misrepresenting tests or studies
Additional Information:
All underlying or supporting data must be preserved and made available to FTC for inspection / $500,000 judgment / Compliance reporting and recordkeeping required
Number:
Date of Decision:
Company:
Airborne Health, Inc.
Product: Airborne Effervescent Health Formula
Product Category:
- Immunity
Last Action:
$30 million judgment / Prohibited from making false and unsubstantiated cold prevention, germ-fighting, and efficacy claims / Prohibited from making claims that are false, misleading, or not substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence
Additional Information:
Established consumer redress program / FTC authorized to monitor compliance
Number:
Date of Decision:
Company:
Alcoholism Cure Corporation
Product: "Permanent Cure” program
Product Category:
- Alcoholism
Last Action:
$732,480 judgment to be used for consumer refunds / Prohibited from marketing or selling any treatment or cure for alcoholism, drug addiction, or any other human health-related problem / Prohibited from using trade names such as “alcoholism cure” or “permanent cure” / Prohibited from unauthorized billing and from any further collection actions against victims / Prohibited from misrepresenting the cost or terms of any offer, the professional qualifications of employees, or that they are a charity
Additional Information:
Compliance reporting and monitoring required
Number:
Date of Decision:
Company:
Ambervine Marketing, LLC
Product: Acai Berry Products
Product Category:
- Weight-Loss
Last Action:
$953,000 judgment / Must halt fake news site to market products / Required to make clear their messages are ads rather than journalism / Prohibited from making deceptive claims
Additional Information:
$953,000 judgment suspended upon payment of $110,000 plus sale of assets / Compliance reporting and monitoring required
Number:
Date of Decision:
Company:
Anthony Dill / Staci Dill / Direct Alternatives / Original Organics LLC
Product: AF Plus / Final Trim
Product Category:
- Weight-Loss
Last Action:
$16,419,989 judgment (suspended pending liquidation of assets) / Banned from making substantial or permanent weight-loss or fat-blocking claims / Prohibited from making other weight-loss claims unless supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence that consists of human clinical testing that is randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and conducted by qualified researchers / Other health-related claims must be supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence / Preservation of records required / Prohibited from misrepresenting any tests or studies, or that a product is clinically proven to cause weight loss or that the benefits are scientifically proven / Prohibiting from misrepresenting terms of purchase and refund or cancellation policies
Additional Information:
Joint action with Maine AG / Preservation of records required except for reliably reported tests / Prohibiting from misrepresenting terms of purchase and refund or cancellation policies / Additional requirements for disclosures and informed consent.
Number:
Date of Decision:
Company:
Applied Food Sciences, Inc.
Product: Green Coffee Antioxidant
Product Category:
- Weight-Loss
Last Action:
Prohibited from making or assisting others in making certain weight-loss or fat loss claims unless supported by at least two randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled human trials / Other claims about health benefits, performance, or efficacy must be supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence / Barred from misrepresenting tests or studies
Additional Information:
All underlying or supporting data must be preserved and made available to FTC for inspection / $3.5 million judgment / Recordkeeping required
Number:
Date of Decision:
Company:
AVS Marketing, Inc.
Product: Himalayan Diet Breakthrough
Product Category:
- Weight-Loss
Last Action:
$4.9 million judgment / Permanently enjoined from making claims about rapid and substantial weight loss / Prohibits claims related to weight-loss or the health benefits, performance, efficacy, safety or side effects of a product without competent and reliable scientific evidence / Prohibited from misrepresenting endorsements
Additional Information:
Number:
Date of Decision:
Company:
Bayer Corporation
Product: One-A-Day WeightSmart
Product Category:
- Weight-Loss
Last Action:
$3.2 million civil penalty judgment / Required health claims to be supported by scientific evidence / Prohibited from making unsubstantiated representations regarding the benefits, performance, efficacy, safety, or side effects of any dietary supplement, multivitamin, or weight-control product
Additional Information:
Compliance reporting and monitoring required
Number: