Savvy individuals know that the concept of truth in marketing is largely a misnomer. . According to the Wall Street Journal, the United States of America Federal Trade Commission has sued 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.”
POM Wonderful facing stiff challenge from FTC
There are numerous POM Wonderful ads that specifically state that their products are “proven to fight for cardiovascular, prostate and erectile health,” reports the WSJ. The Federal Trade Commission explains that having “17 percent improved blood flow” and a “30 percent decrease in arterial plaque” aren’t enough evidence to advertise that way. POM Wonderful claims the company’s statements are true and supported by “unprecedented scientific research,” questionable language that may not be helping POM Wonderful’s claims of legitimacy.
According to David Vladeck of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, “Any consumer who sees POM Wonderful products as a silver bullet against disease has been misled.”.
POM Wonderful then sued the Federal Trade Commission
According to POM Wonderful, the FTC’s needs are unreasonable. 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 FTC even submitted the suit. While the FTC hasn’t played the former 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 wellness claims – if indeed the statements are unverified – do raise reasonable questions, considering their specificity. POM Wonderful even put out some ads once stating that its pomegranate juice will protect against PSA’s which are prostate-specific antigens. The WSJ states this hasn’t been proven scientifically at all. Statements that haven’t been proven cause issues. Consumers may buy based upon off the false fact.
Find more information 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
