$40 Million Settlement Reached in FTC False Advertising Suit Related to Dietary Supplements
Lunada Biomedical, Inc. (Lunada) has recently agreed to pay a $40 million settlement to resolve a federal false advertising case related to Amberen, a dietary supplement.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Lunada – the marketing company responsible for Amberen’s ads – made misleading and unsubstantiated claims about this supplement for menopausal women over 40, contending that the supplement providing various health benefits.
Commenting on this settlement, FTC Director Jessica Rich has stated:
The Lunada defendants made strong claims about the effectiveness of their supplement without the scientific evidence to back them up…The relief provided by this court order is intended to prevent the defendants from making unsupported health benefit claims in the future.
Details of the False Advertising Case & Settlement
As the FTC reveals, the false claims that Lunada made in the ads and marketing materials for Amberen included that the supplement could:
- Promote weight loss and reduce belly fat
- Increase users’ metabolism
- Alleviate various common symptoms of menopause, such as fatigue, hot flashes and sleeping problems.
Describing Amberen’s misleading tactics, Director Rich has explained that:
Lunada marketed Amberen to women over 40 as ‘clinically proven’ to cause weight loss… But their own studies didn’t support those claims. The best way to lose weight is still diet and exercise.
In addition to making misleading claims about Amberen, Lunada also reportedly misled consumers by:
- Not revealing that the product’s endorsements were from people affiliated with the brand
- Claiming that the supplement had a 93 percent success rate
- Offering a deceptive “30-day risk-free trial” of the supplement.
About one year after the FTC first took action against Lunada, the company and its three parent companies have now agreed to a $40 million settlement. Because these companies are unable to pay the bulk of this settlement, however, the FTC has agreed to suspend all but $250,000 of it.
In addition to the monetary fine, this settlement also bans Lunada from:
- Making any claims about the health benefits of drugs, food or supplements if the company doesn’t have the required clinical test results to backup such claims
- Misleading consumers about the efficacy of drugs, food or supplements
- Misrepresenting any fact about the products it markets
- Concealing when the company has paid for endorsements.
Contact the Los Angeles Consumer Attorneys at the Azadian Law Group, PC
If you have been harmed by a company’s false or misleading claims about its products, contact the Los Angeles consumer attorneys at the Azadian Law Group, PC for a free case to review to find out more about your options for recovery and justice.
You can call us at 626-449-4944 or send us an email via this contact form to find out more about how we can help you. If you choose to move forward with us, you will not have to pay us any legal fees until or unless compensation is secured for your case.
From offices based in Pasadena, our attorneys provide exceptional legal service and representation to people throughout Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County and the state of California.
Related Blog Posts
In another major win for California consumers, George S. Azadian and Ani Azadian have recently settled a price-switching class action...
Read MoreDays ago, officials at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a new proposal that would ban mandatory arbitration clauses...
Read MoreTwo companies operating under the name Mercola – Mercola, LLC and Mercola Health Resources, LLC – have recently agreed to...
Read MoreTypes of Employment Cases We Handle in Los Angeles, CA
The following presents an overview of the broad range of employment law cases that our employment attorneys are experienced at overseeing and favorably resolving.
Wrongful Termination
Wrongful Termination Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA Attorneys at Azadian Law Group who have filed wrongful termination lawsuits acknowledge that unfair termination can significantly impact an employee’s life. It can…
Age Discrimination
Age Discrimination Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA Azadian Law Group, PC regularly represents clients throughout Los Angeles, CA, who are the victims of age discrimination in the workplace. At Azadian…
Pregnancy Discrimination
Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA At Azadian Law Group, PC, our pregnancy discrimination lawyer in Los Angeles, regularly represents clients who are the victims of pregnancy discrimination in…
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment Attorney in Los Angeles, CA The Los Angeles Sexual Harassment Lawyers at Azadian Law Group, PC know that in today’s modern era some people often make the mistake…
Racial Discrimination
Racial Discrimination Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA Azadian Law Group, PC regularly represents clients throughout Los Angeles who are the victims of racial discrimination at work. The Los Angeles Race…
Disability Discrimination
Disability Discrimination Attorneys in Los Angeles, CA There is a misconception that disabled people do not want to work or that disabled individuals simply cannot or will not be as…
Praise from Our Clients
AS
JA
OM
AC
TA
AG
MZ
1ศม
DG
RT
N
M
MM
JJ
KM
VB
SR
CG
JL
NS
CW
KG
ES
SL
TR
GA
CA
MH
PG
JA
S
GN
LD(
AA
CA
MM
AW
A
JJ
DB
DA
SM
KK
PW
MJ
CP
SS
WR
DM
PD
PP
AF
PZ
AJ
GC
KD
AO
AC
A“TH
LS
TP
JG
RS
L
RK
D
SD
KN
HM
RM
KM
LAL
QT
BS
KJ
RM
VM
W
JS
DP
TP
KW
SD
HLC
KR
TM
DNG
CF
SM
GA
SM
PD
GC
LS
SS
YU
TCG
VV
AA
SC
PC
VS
DV
MS
LA
EC
MP
SS
RC
MS
Who We Represent
At Azadian Law Group, we are dedicated to upholding the rights and interests of employees in the workplace. Our expertise in employment law positions us as staunch advocates for those facing unjust treatment in their professional environments.
Whether combating workplace discrimination, addressing unfair termination, or negotiating equitable compensation, our team is committed to ensuring that every employee we represent is treated fairly and respectfully under the law.
Step 1
Explore our comprehensive range of legal services to find the specialized support you need.
Step 2
Arrange a free initial meeting with our experts to discuss your legal situation.
Step 3
Receive a custom strategy specially created for your case by our legal experts.
Call Us Now 213-229-9031
Tell Us Your Story
Speak out for justice. Your story can be the start of a new chapter of workplace fairness.