Most individuals know about marketing. This helps them to understand advertising is not typically all that true. However, a business can only go so far without proof to back up claims made about a product or service. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has decided to take a step up and sue, according to the Wall Street Journal, the POM Wonderful LLC that makes a pomegranate juice drink in Los Angeles. The Federal Trade Commission claims in the suit that POMx supplements and POM Wonderful juice have “false and unsubstantiated claims that their products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction.”
POM Wonderful dealing with stiff concern from Federal Trade Commission
The WSJ argues that POM Wonderful products aren’t that bad. They have been “proven to fight for cardiovascular, prostate and erectile health,” supposedly. 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 prosecuted by POM Wonderful
POM Wonderful made complaints about the Federal Trade Commission. Apparently the business thinks it is unreasonable to make such requirements. POM Wonderful statements that the First Amendment free-speech rights were being broken when the Federal Trade Commission requirements were put in place, which was before the Federal Trade Commission even submitted the suit. POM Wonderful should have its health claims checked out since they’re specific enough to raise some eyebrows. The FTC hasn’t just called the company out for nothing. In one series of ads, POM Wonderful claims that drinking pomegranate juice is the only way to reduce PSAs (prostate-specific antigens). The WSJ claims this hasn’t been proven scientifically at all. Consumers are expected to purchase depending on unverified statements.
Further reading
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
