Bogus Dietary Supplements Claims: You Could Get A Refund

The crackdown on misleading supplements claims continues. If you have bought certain dietary supplement lines, you could be up for a refund. The FTC recently charged one company and its affiliates for deceptive advertising. The company, like several others, has since agreed to settle, and issue refunds to affected consumers:

As part of its ongoing efforts to stop bogus health claims, in 2010, the FTC charged Iovate Health Sciences U.S.A. and two affiliated Canadian companies with deceptively advertising that the supplements named above could help consumers lose weight or could treat and prevent colds, flu, and allergies.  In settling with the FTC, Iovate agreed to pay $5.5 million for consumer refunds.

Consumers who bought any of these five dietary supplements between January 2006 and July 2010 will have until April 1, 2013, to apply for a refund by filing a claim form online or calling 1-877-576-9978 to request a paper claim form in the mail.  Consumers who previously received a refund from a California class action settlement involving Cold MD are not eligible to receive a second payment.  Consumers are eligible to submit claims for up to five of a single type of product, and for a total of up to 10 products.  The amount of each refund will depend on the number of products purchased and the number of claims submitted by eligible consumers.  Eligible consumers who receive refund checks must cash them within 60 days of when they are issued. See original story

Indeed, we love quick fixes. We are the generation of immediate gratification. Some companies take advantage of this by promising a solution in a pill. The FTC appears serious on putting a stop to deceptive advertising for health products. Unfortunately there is no quick fix (at least not yet) when it comes to your health. Supplements work together with a sensible diet and exercise, not in place of these two.