For the Sake of Science

Sorry for the redundant post title. I suppose there is no way to peddle alternative medicine without also being deceptive. That’s the whole point of all these snake oil salesmen.

Anyway, CVS has been fined $2.8 million for marketing a dietary supplement called AirShield. They made the claim that it could “prevent colds, fight germs, and boost immune systems”, all without evidence. Pesky thing, that.

“Students returning to college campuses and parents sending their kids off to school want to take precautions to fight the germs that can cause coughs, colds, and the flu,” said David Vladeck, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade Commission. “As the CDC has advised, there are good practices to follow. But consumers should not be misled by false claims about the germ-fighting properties of dietary supplements. With orders against Airborne, Rite Aid, and the one proposed against CVS, manufacturers and retailers are on notice that they have to tell the truth about what dietary supplements can and cannot do.”

Filed under: News | Tagged: AirShield, Alternative Medicine, Bureau of Consumer Protection, CDC, CVS, David Vladeck |