Airborne Settles Fraud Class Action Lawsuit
March 6th, 2008 joshua
Airborne has agreed to pay $23.3 million to consumers as a settlement in a class action lawsuit over deceptive advertising brought against the company.
Airborne was pitched on television as a way to prevent colds. It was allegedly created by a second-grade teacher and uses herbal remedies to boost immunity to illness, such as a cold. It claims to use seven herbal extracts and a blend of vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants.
But it turns out that was all bogus. “There’s no credible evidence that what’s in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment,” said Center for Science in the Public Interest Senior nutritionist David Schardt. “Airborne is basically on overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that’s been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed.”
CSPI will spend an undetermined amount of money for advertising to instruct consumers how to get their money back for the Airborne they purchased.
Airborne stopped an original ad campaign after it was determined that the company conducted no scientific study on its effects, instead relying on “laypeople” for its information, according to CNN.com
Airborne stopped claiming to cure colds and instead boasted of its ability to boost immune systems.
