Most people learn about advertising. This helps them to understand advertising is not typically all that true. Marketing does make some things happen. Businesses do have to follow anything they claim in advertising. The Wall Street Journal reports that POM Wonderful LLC of Los Angeles, they make a pomegranate drink, is being prosecuted by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission suit is all about what is in the POM Wonderful products. Apparently the juice and POMx supplements have “false and unsubstantiated statements that their products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction.”
POM Wonderful has lots in opposition to it because of the FTC
Products from POM Wonderful have been shown to “proven to fight for cardiovascular, prostate and erectile health,” in studies explains the WSJ. The FTC explains that having “17 percent improved blood flow” and a “30 percent decrease in arterial plaque” aren’t enough evidence to advertise that way. 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.
POM Wonderful had filed a pre-emptive suit from the FTC
POM Wonderful thinks the requirements the FTC puts out aren’t possible to follow. POM Wonderful claims that the First Amendment free-speech rights were being broken when the FTC requirements were put in place, which was before the Federal Trade Commission even filed the suit. The FTC was just doing its job when asking questions about the all too specific wellness statements by POM Wonderful making sure the public is safe from false advertising. In one series of ads, POM Wonderful claims that drinking pomegranate juice is the only way to reduce PSAs (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 based on unverified statements.
Additional 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
