Advertising doesn’t usually contain much truth in it which is known by most. Businesses will often get in trouble for the statements they make about products in advertising. According to the Wall Street Journal, the United States Federal Trade Commission has prosecuted POM Wonderful LLC of Los Angeles, makers of a popular pomegranate juice drink. The FTC’s lawsuit alleges that POM Wonderful juice and POMx supplements contain “false and unsubstantiated claims that their products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction.”
FTC is going in opposition to POM Wonderful hardcore
Products from POM Wonderful have been shown to “proven to fight for cardiovascular, prostate and erectile health,” in studies explains the WSJ. Such claims as a “30 percent decrease in arterial plaque” and “17 percent improved blood flow” do now have sufficient supporting scientific evidence, states the FTC. The statements are backed by “unprecedented scientific research,” which is what POM Wonderful claims although it isn’t quite legitimate.
“Any consumer who sees POM Wonderful products as a silver bullet against disease has been misled,” is what David Vladeck said. He is the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
FTC now being sued by POM Wonderful
POM Wonderful made complaints about the Federal Trade Commission. Evidently the company thinks it is unreasonable for making such requirements. The Federal Trade Commission hadn’t even filed the lawsuit when POM Wonderful said the requirements weren’t fair. POM Wonderful claims its free-speech rights within the First Amendment are being hurt because of the requirements. While the FTC hasn’t played the previous Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes card of falsely shouting “fire” in a crowded theater as an illustration of the limits of free speech, POM Wonderful’s health claims – if indeed the statements are unsubstantiated – do raise reasonable questions, thinking about their specificity. POM Wonderful even put out some ads once stating that its pomegranate juice will protect in opposition to PSA’s which are prostate-specific antigens. These facts have to be proven scientifically before stating them. The WSJ reports that they weren’t proven. Consumers are expected to purchase depending on unverified claims.
Find more info on this subject
Wall Street Journal
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704654004575517871757238034.html?KEYWORDS=POM Wonderful
Protesting POM Wonderful’s animal testing (Warning: Some NSFW language is audible)
youtube.com/watch?v=htxIpHbl4lA
