FTC Resources for Reporters
Health and Fitness Claims
Americans spend billions of dollars every year on supplements, foods and devices in hopes of improving their health and fitness. But not all of these products live up to the advertising claims that they can help people lose weight, combat disease, and improve their cognitive abilities. The Federal Trade Commission combats this type of deceptive advertising in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration. The FTC also seeks the expertise of other government authorities, including the National Institutes of Health.
With regard to the supplement industry, which reported an estimated $25 billion in sales in 2009 – a six percent increase over the previous year – market analysts suggest that the downturn in the economy has led to increased spending on these products, as consumers attempt to manage their own healthcare and avoid expensive doctor visits and prescription medications. All too often, the health claims made for these products are false or unproven. Over the last decade, the FTC has filed one hundred and twenty cases challenging health claims made for supplements. Meanwhile, in recent years there has been a trend in food advertising toward making unproven claims that eating certain foods can improve health and even reduce the risk of serious illnesses such as prostate cancer and heart disease.
News Releases:
- FTC Charges Second "Affiliate Network" of Internet Advertisers with Deceiving Consumers by Using Fake News Sites to Market Acai Berry Weight-Loss Products and Colon Cleansers – 09/12/2012
- FTC Takes Action Against Companies Marketing Allegedly Unproven Natural Bed Bug and Head Lice Treatments – 09/10/2012
- Subsidiary of Diet Plan Marketer Medifast Inc. to Pay $3.7 Million to Settle FTC Charges – 09/10/2012
- Ads Touting "Your Baby Can Read" Were Deceptive, FTC Complaint Alleges – 08/28/2012
- FTC Refunds $6 Million to Consumers Who Bought Deceptively Advertised Supplements that Were Supposed to Cause Weight Loss and Treat Erectile Dysfunction – 08/28/2012
- Marketers of 'Ab Circle Pro' Device to Pay as Much as $25 Million in Refunds to Settle FTC Charges – 08/23/2012
- Settlement with FTC Prohibits Marketer Brain-Pad, Inc. from Claiming that Its Mouthguards Can Reduce Risk of Concussions – 08/16/2012
- FTC Tells Consumers They May Be Due a Refund If They Purchased Disney- or Marvel Hero-themed Children's Vitamins – 08/14/2012
- Refunds Stemming From Reebok's Settlement With FTC Mailed to Consumers Who Bought EasyTone and RunTone Shoes and EasyTone Apparel – 08/07/2012
- FTC and Florida Attorney General Win Court Judgment of More Than $700,000 in Bogus Alcoholism Cure Scheme – 07/19/2012
- Administrative Law Judge Upholds FTC's Complaint that POM Deceptively Advertised Its Products as Treating, Preventing, or Reducing the Risk of Heart Disease, Prostate Cancer, and Erectile Dysfunction – 05/21/2012
- Consumers Who Bought Two Oreck Products Will Receive FTC Refunds – 05/21/2012
- Skechers Will Pay $40 Million to Settle FTC Charges That It Deceived Consumers with Ads for "Toning Shoes" – 05/16/2012
- FTC Permanently Stops Two More Operations Charged with Using Fake News Sites to Deceive Consumers about Acai Berry Products, Defendants will Pay Nearly $1.5 Million to Settle Charges – 03/21/2012
- FTC Permanently Stops Six Operators from Using Fake News Sites that Allegedly Deceived Consumers about Acai Berry Weight-Loss Products – 01/25/2012
- Lane Labs Found in Contempt of Court Order Barring Deceptive Health Claims – 12/14/2011
- In FTC ‘Hoodia’ Weight Loss Case, Settlement Requires Defendants to Turn Over Assets – 11/03/11
- FTC Requires Packaging Changes for Fruit-Flavored Four Loko Malt Beverage – 10/03/2011
- Reebok to Pay $25 Million in Customer Refunds To Settle FTC Charges of Deceptive Advertising of EasyTone and RunTone Shoes – 09/28/2011
- FTC Settlement Requires Internet Marketer to Stop Selling Cosmetic Contact Lenses without Prescriptions – 07/20/2011
- FTC Settlement Prohibits Marketer from Claiming that Nivea Skin Cream Can Help Consumers Slim Down – 06/29/2011
- FTC Returns More Than $11.8 Million to Consumers Defrauded by Q-Ray Bracelet Scam – 05/06/2011
- FTC Seeks to Halt 10 Operators of Fake News Sites from Making Deceptive Claims About Acai Berry Weight Loss Products – 04/19/2011
- FTC Settlement Requires Oreck Corporation to Stop Making False and Unproven Claims That Its Ultraviolet Vacuum and Air Cleaner Can Prevent Illness – 04/07/2011
- Dannon Agrees to Drop Exaggerated Health Claims for Activia Yogurt and DanActive Dairy Drink – 12/15/2010
- FTC Settlement Prohibits Marketers of Children's Vitamins from Making Deceptive Health Claims about Brain and Eye Development – 12/13/2010
- FTC Charges Marketer for Making Phony Claims That Dietary Supplements Can Treat and Prevent Diabetes – 10/28/2010
- FTC Complaint Charges Deceptive Advertising by POM Wonderful – 09/27/2010
- Court Orders Internet Marketers of Acai Berry Weight-Loss Pills and “Colon Cleansers” to Stop Deceptive Advertising and Unfair Billing Practices – 08/16/2010
- Nestlé Subsidiary to Settle FTC False Advertising Charges; Will Drop Deceptive Health Claims for BOOST Kid Essentials – 07/14/2010
- Dietary Supplement Maker to Pay $5.5 Million to Settle FTC False Advertising Charges – 07/14/2010
- FTC Investigation of Ad Claims that Rice Krispies Benefits Children's Immunity Leads to Stronger Order Against Kellogg – 06/03/2010
- FTC Warns Marketers of Children's Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements That Claims About Brain and Vision Benefits May Be Deceptive – 02/16/2010
- Kellogg Settles FTC Charges That Ads for Frosted Mini-Wheats Were False – 04/20/2009
- FTC Charges Marketers of Kinoki Foot Pads With Deceptive Advertising; Seeks Funds for Consumer Redress – 01/28/2009
Facebook Questions and Answers:
- Skechers Settlement Facebook Q&A transcript – 05/16/2012
Twitter Questions and Answers:
- Skechers Settlement Twitter Chat transcript – 05/16/2012
Congressional Testimony:
Business Education:
- “Cereal” Violations?
- Dietary Supplements: An Advertising Guide for Industry
- Voluntary Guidelines for Providers of Weight Loss Products or Services
- Last Shill and “Test”-ament
- Weighing the Evidence: Substantiating Claims for Weight Loss Products
- Substantiation: The Science of Compliance
Consumer Education: