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Natural Health Store Misleads Consumers Over Homeopathy
Natural Health Store Misleads Consumers Over Homeopathy
The Advertising Standards Authority has
ruled that ads for homeopathy from New Zealand natural
health store “HealthPost” were misleading.
The
Society for Science Based Healthcare complained about three
advertisements from HealthPost. The ASA has released its
decision to uphold two of these complaints, and to settle
the third after the misleading claims identified in the
complaint were removed.
The upheld complaints were
about two homeopathic products, “Cramp-Stop” and “Colic Calm”.
HealthPost had
advertised Cramp-Stop as being able to prevent and treat
muscle cramp. Neither HealthPost nor the manufacturer of
Cramp-Stop, NZ Natural Formulas, was able to supply credible
evidence for the claims. The ASA ruled:
“as no
substantiation had been provided to support the strong
therapeutic claims made, or adequate evidence to support the
comparative claim, the original advertisement was likely to
mislead the consumer.”
Colic Calm was advertised as
being proven effective in treating colic. However, neither
HealthPost nor Colic Calm’s manufacturer were able to
supply evidence to back their claims up. As such, the
Advertising Standards Authority ruled that:
“as no
substantiation had been provided to support the efficacy of
the product in helping a "baby's digestive system adjust to
new foods and help relieve stomach upset caused by infant
teething" it was likely to mislead the
consumer.”
The complainant, Daniel Ryan,
says
"It's disappointing that these products have been
misleading consumers and exploiting their lack of knowledge
that these are nothing more than the placebo
effect"
Ryan further notes he was happy with the
outcome of the complaint, and hopes to see to see more
upheld complaints against bad health claims for
homeopathy.
________________________________________
The
ASA also settled one and upheld two other complaints from
the Society for Science Based Healthcare, regarding
misleading claims in health ads.
Complaints against
homeopathic business “Healing Haven” and New Zealand online
pharmacy Pharmacy Direct, which was advertising ear candles,
were upheld.
HealthPost removed strong health claims
about a product called “Noni Juice” when it became clear they
were not supported by evidence, resulting in the complaint
being settled.
A complaint regarding misleading claims
made by Red Seal about dental fluorosis in an ad
for their fluoride-free toothpaste was settled, when they
removed the claim
voluntarily.
________________________________________
• Cramp-Stop
complaint: http://asa.sbh.nz/complaint/15392
• Colic
Calm complaint: http://asa.sbh.nz/complaint/15394
• Healing
Haven complaint: http://asa.sbh.nz/complaint/15391
• Pharmacy
Direct complaint: http://asa.sbh.nz/complaint/15208
• “Noni
Juice” HealthPost complaint: http://asa.sbh.nz/complaint/15410
• Red
Seal complaint: http://asa.sbh.nz/complaint/15411
• Natural
Health Store Misleads Consumers Over Homeopathy: http://sbh.nz/complaints/advertising-standards-authority/natural-health-store-misleads-consumers-over-homeopathy
ends
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