Alleged Supplement Marketers Settle With FTC
The marketers of dietary supplements that purportedly prevented and treated diabetes have settled Federal Trade Commission charges that they allegedly engaged in deceptive advertising practices.
According to the FTC, Glucorell Inc. and Anafit, Inc., both based in Orlando, Florida, made false and unsubstantiated claims that two dietary supplements, Insulow and Glucorell R, are effective for preventing and treating diabetes.
Under the terms of the order approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on Oct. 27, the defendants are prohibited from making the claims challenged in the complaint unless such claims are truthful, not misleading, and substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence, according to the FTC.
The defendants are also prohibited from making representations about the benefits, performance, or efficacy of any dietary supplement, food, or drug without competent and reliable scientific evidence, according to the FTC.
The order contains a judgment of $493,545, which is the total amount the defendants received in sales for Glucorell R and Insulow between Jan.2005 and May 2008, according to the FTC.
Along with statements in their ads—which ran on radio, television and on Web sites– such as “Insulow may be the only thing between you . . . and a needle,” the defendants also made unsubstantiated claims that Insulow prevents or reduces the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes; is an effective treatment for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, according to the FTC;
The drugs also allegedly lower high blood sugar levels; prevent or reverse insulin resistance; increase fat loss and decrease insulin-related obesity and enable diabetics to reduce or eliminate the amount of drugs and insulin required to keep blood sugar levels healthy and reduce insulin resistance, according to the complaint.
The Commission also alleged that the defendants falsely advertised that all of these claims except the last had been proven by clinical studies.
The FTC also alleged that the defendants made unsubstantiated claims about Glucorell R. Specifically, the defendants’ advertisements allegedly claimed that Glucorell R is effective for treating Type 2 diabetes, prevents or reduces the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and is effective in treating and preventing cancer. According to the complaint, the defendants also falsely advertised that the last two Glucorell R claims were proven by clinical studies.
According to the FTC, Glucorell, Inc. has been primarily responsible for packaging, distributing, and selling Insulow, and has marketed both supplements; while Anafit, Inc. has been responsible for packaging, distributing, selling, and marketing only Glucorell R.
