1.

Gerber Good Start Gentle formula

Gerber made unsubstantiated claims that its Good Start Gentle

formula prevented children who took it from developing
allergies, a claim that could have significant consequences for
children with allergies. The 2014 lawsuit filed by the Federal
Trade Commission was settled in 2019, with Gerber agreeing
not to make any similar claims for the product or imply the
government authorized such a claim.

2. Sensa weight-loss product

Sensa claimed that its powdered additive – that you sprinkle on food – enhanced the smell
and taste of food, thus making users feel full and eat less. The FTC ruled that the claim misled
consumers and made unfounded weight-loss claims. The organization was forced to pay
$26.5 million for a settlement, and was also charged for failing to disclose that they had paid
customers for their endorsement.

3. 5-Hour Energy

5-hour Energy alleged that its energy drink shots were more effective than coffee and that
doctors recommended it. Those claims were found to be deceptive, and the makers of 5-Hour
Energy were ordered to pay $4.3 million in penalties and fees. The ruling was upheld in 2019
by the Washington Court of Appeals.

4. Lumosity app

In its ads, Lumos Labs claimed its app, which offers users access to games and brain training
exercises, that it would help prevent Alzheimer's disease or help students perform better in
school, though it had no proof. The company was fined $2 million by the FTC.

5. Vitaminwater

Coca-Cola falsely claimed its Vitaminwater products could promote healthy joints, reduce the
risk of eye disease, and have other health benefits. The company agreed to change
Vitaminwater labels.

6. Nissan Frontier

A 2014 ad showed a Nissan Frontier pushing a dune buggy up a hill – a feat the truck is
unable to pull off in real life. The company was forced to stop airing the advertisement, or any
commercial making similar unfounded claims in the future.

7. Frosted Mini Wheats

The Kellogg Company claimed Frosted Mini Wheats improved children's attentiveness by
20%. But attentiveness did not increase as much as promised in the vast majority of children
who ate the cereal. Kellogg agreed to a $4 million settlement and to stop using the ads.

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8. Pom pomegranate juice

Pom Wonderful claimed its fruit juice helped

reduce the risk of medical issues such as heart
disease, prostate cancer, and erectile
dysfunction. Those claims were not backed by
research and were ruled to be deceptive. POM
Wonderful petitioned the Supreme Court to
review the case, but it declined to do so in 2016.

9. Camels cigarettes

A 1946 advertisement for Camel cigarettes claimed that doctors preferred the brand in a
supposedly independent survey, which was revealed to have been conducted by an ad agency
using suspect methods. The cigarette commercial showed actors dressed as doctors puffing
on cigarettes between house calls. Even at the time there was substantial evidence that
cigarettes were deadly, and some view the use of doctors to imply their health a particularly
despicable act of deceptive advertising.

10. L'Oreal skincare cosmetics

L'oreal claimed its Lancôme Génifique and Youth Code cosmetics prevented skin aging by
boosting genetic activity in the user. The company was unable to support those claims when
pressed. Under the terms of a settlement, the cosmetics company was prevented from making
any claims about their products' ability to alter the users' genetics.

11. Sony Vita game console

Sony claimed that its PlayStation Vita handheld gaming console was "game changing,"
promising features such as cross-platform and remote play. Yet many of these features were
only available on certain games. In a settlement, Sony agreed to provide PS Vita buyers with a
$25 cash or credit refund, or a $50 merchandise voucher.

12. New Balance toning shoes

The athletic shoe maker said its toning shoe could help wearers burn calories, though the
shoes were never proven to be any better at helping to burn calories than other types of shoes.
New Balance settled a class-action lawsuit over those claims in 2012 for $2.3 million.

13. Sale Slash diet pills

Sale Slash used completely fabricated endorsements from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey to
make unfounded weight-loss claims about its diet pills. The FTC ruled that the ads were
deceptive and the ingredients were unproven to be effective as a weight-loss treatment. In a
settlement, Sale Slash provided over $8 million in refunds.

14. Eclipse gum

The Wrigley Company said its Eclipse Gum with magnolia bark extract could kill germs that
cause bad breath. The claim was unfounded, and Wrigley agreed to pay $6 million to $7
million to settle a class-action suit and pay back buyers.

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15. Activia yogurt

Dannon used actress Jamie Lee Curtis to tout "scientifically proven" claims that Activia helps
regulate digestion and boost the immune system. A judge said Dannon "simply hadn't
proven" its claim and ordered the company to pay $45 million to settle a lawsuit.

16. Pure Green Coffee antioxidant capsules

Nicholas Scott Congleton claimed that Pure Green Coffee helped

weight loss. The company used fake news organizations and
logos from actual media outlets to prop up its bogus claims. Dr.
Oz, too, endorsed this product on his show and was later hauled
in front of a Senate's Consumer Protection panel to defend his
actions.

17. D-Lite, SunSplash, and Vitality tanning systems

Mercola Brand Tanning Systems claimed its tanning systems did not raise the risk of
melanoma, a type of skin cancer, but "these claims are false and not supported by science,"
the FTC said in its complaint. The company settled the complaint for nearly $2.6 million.

18. Chemence glue products

Chemence overstated how many of the chemicals in its glue products were made in the
United States, including a "Made in the USA" designation on many of its products, for which
the majority of components were imported. The Georgia-based company agreed to pay a
$220,000 judgment to resolve the lawsuit brought by the FTC.

19. iSpring Water Systems

iSpring Water Systems claimed its water filtration systems were made in America, but many
were either largely or entirely manufactured overseas. The company was barred from making
those claims.

20. Chemical Free Solutions bed bug eradication product

A line of cedar oil-based products from Chemical Free Solutions LLC claimed to prevent bed
bug infestations – a statement unsupported by science. The company was banned from
selling bed bug eradication products and had to pay over $200,000 in customer refunds.

21. Nectar Brand mattresses

Nectar Brand marketed its mattresses as assembled in the United States, when they were
"wholly imported" from China. The company must disclose the extent to which the product
has foreign parts and not make any other similar misleading claims.

22. Benjamin Moore & Co. paint

Benjamin Moore & Co. said its products contained no volatile organic compounds and that
they were emission free, though it could not support those claims. The FTC ordered the paint
company to cease making any similar claims.

23. Capital Home Advocacy Center mortgage assistance

Capital Home Advocacy Center, which offered mortgage relief to homeowners, claimed it was
accredited by the Better Business Bureau, even though it had actually received an F rating.
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 The business was hit with an injunction and restraining
order

24. American Plastic Lumber Company

building materials

American Plastic Lumber Company overstated the

amount of recycled materials in its products. As a
result, the company will have to specifically
demonstrate its products were recovered waste before
making any similar claims.

25. Nopalea fruit drink

TriVita claimed that its Nopalea drink would reduce pain and inflammation, improve
breathing, and provide a number of additional health benefits – none of which were
scientifically proven. The company settled with the FTC for $3.5 million.

26. Smart Balance Blended Butter Sticks

Blended Butter Sticks from Smart Balance claimed to block cholesterol, but the product
contained too much saturated fat for that to be true. Smart Balance has removed the claim.

27. ADT home security

ADT falsely identified the safety and technology experts who endorsed its home security
product as independent. Those experts had actually been paid for their endorsements. ADT
was required to remove paid reviews and endorsements that were not properly identified and
prohibit them from misrepresenting paid endorsements again.

28. Tarr Inc. weight-loss product

Products marketed by 19 companies under Tarr Inc. claimed to help weight loss, build
muscle, and reduced wrinkles. Those claims were made using fake celebrity endorsements
and user testimonials.

29. Withdrawal Ease/Recovery Ease natural supplement

Withdrawal Ease and Recovery Ease products of Catlin Enterprises claimed to alleviate the
symptoms of opiate withdrawal and increase the likelihood of a person overcoming opiate
dependency. The FTC called these statements false, citing the lack of any scientific evidence.

30. Skechers Shape-Ups

Skechers said in advertisements that its Shape-Ups shoes would help wearers lose weight and
tone their muscles. Those claims were deemed deceptive, and Skechers settled for $50
million.

31. Cheerios

Cheerios claimed the breakfast cereal could lower cholesterol. After

receiving a warning letter from the FTC challenging this claim,
Cheerios parent General Mills changed the label to say the cereal
"can help lower cholesterol."

32. Mars Petcare US dog food

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Mars, the company that makes M&M's, said its Eukanuba dog food could extend dogs'
lifespans by 30% or more. The FTC ordered the company to stop making those unsupported
claims.

33. Vibram fivefinger shoes

Vibram claimed its FiveFinger running shoes offered health benefits compared with regular
running shoes, though it could not back up those claims. The company settled a class action
suit for $3.75 million.

34. Airborne dietary supplement

Airborne claimed that it helped ward off harmful bacteria and germs, preventing ailments like
the flu and cold, but there was no evidence to support the assertion. In essence, this was a
way to market regular vitamin supplements at an even higher price. The company settled a
$23 million lawsuit.

35. ExtenZe herbal supplement

ExtenZe claimed its product was "scientifically proven to increase the size of a certain part of
the male body." That was untrue, and the company paid $6 million to settle a class-action
suit.

36. Snapchat

Snapchat claimed that messages sent on the app would disappear, yet third-party apps can
save the messages indefinitely. Snapchat was required to notify users that messages could
actually be saved.

37. Volkswagen

The German carmaker claimed its diesel cars were environmentally friendly when in fact
Volkswagen vehicles were rigged to cheat emissions tests. The company has so far paid out
billions in settlements for the scandal.

38. Splenda artificial sweetener

Splenda's advertising tagline "Made from Sugar" was determined to be misleading. The sugar
substitute maker decided to settle a lawsuit from a competitor over the slogan.

39. Philip Morris cigarettes

An advertisement claimed Philip Morris cigarettes Marlboro Light had less tar and nicotine
than Marlboro Reds. A class-action lawsuit claimed the company knew the FTC's testing
machines would not detect the actual level of tar and nicotine smokers would inhale. The
plaintiffs were awarded a total of $4.9 million in 2016.