Airborne Settles Lawsuit Over False Advertising of its Miracle Cold Buster

[Guest guest]

Airborne Settles Lawsuit Over False

Advertising of its " Miracle Cold

Buster "

(Date Posted: 3/4/2008)

On March 4, 3008, the Center for Science

in the Public Interest (CSPI) announced that the makers of Airborne -- a

multivitamin and herbal supplement whose labels and ads falsely claimed

that the product cures and prevents colds -- will refund money to

consumers who bought the product, as part of a $23.3 million class action

settlement agreement. The company will pay for ads in Better Homes &

Gardens, Parade, People, Newsweek, and many other magazines and

newspapers instructing consumers how to get refunds.

Concocted by second-grade teacher Victoria Knight McDowell and her

screenwriter husband Thomas Rider McDowell, Airborne promised to “boost

your immune system to help your body combat germs” and instructed users

to “take it at the first sign of a cold symptom or before entering

crowded, potentially germ-infested environments.” The company’s folksy

“created by a school teacher!” slogan and insistence that the product be

stocked with real cold, cough, and flu medicines instead of with dietary

supplements, helped turn the company into an overnight success, as did an

appearance by Victoria Knight McDowell on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

 

But in February 2006, ABC News revealed on Good Morning America that

Airborne’s much-touted lone clinical trial was actually conducted without

any doctors or scientists, just a “two-man operation started up just to

do the Airborne study.” Soon after the plaintiff notified Airborne of his

intent to file suit in March 2006, the company stopped mentioning the

study and began toning down the overt cold-curing claims in favor of

vague “immunity boosting” language. Next, in 2007, the Federal Trade

Commission and a group of state attorneys general began investigating the

various “cold busting” claims that Airborne has made since its launch in

1999. Those investigations are continuing, since the packages’ cartoony

germs and suggestion for use in “school, playgrounds, airplanes” and

other crowded spots still imply that Airborne is aimed at the common

cold.

Airborne’s basic formula contains Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as other

nutrients common in multivitamins; the amino acids glutamine and lysine,

and an “herbal extract proprietary blend.” CSPI cautions that Airborne

may provide too much vitamin A, since just two pills provide 10,000

IU­the maximum safe level for a day­and the package directs customers to

take three per day. In addition to several flavors of the original

formula, other Airborne products include “Power Pixies,” an artificially

sweetened powder version for children; Airborne Seasonal, which is

described as a “non-drowsy formula containing a nutritional blend which

promotes normal histamine levels”; Airborne On-the-Go; and Airborne

Nighttime.

“There’s no credible evidence that what’s in Airborne can prevent colds

or protect you from a germy environment,” said CSPI senior nutritionist

David Schardt, who reviewed Airborne’s claims. “Airborne is basically an

overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that’s been cleverly, but

deceptively, marketed.”

Consumers seeking refunds for purchases of Airborne can obtain a claim

form by writing to the Airborne Class Action Settlement Administrator, PO

Box 1897, Faribault, MN 55021-7152, calling 1-888-952-9080, or by

visiting

 

www.AirborneHealthSettlement.com.

 

 

http://www.cspinet.org/new/200803032.html

[Guest guest]

Anyone else notice that this was posted 1000 years in the future?... ;-)

 

I have an ex-coworker that swears by this "Airborne" stuff while I have never even tried it.

 

Kenneth T

 

-

Lynn Ward

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:45 PM

Airborne Settles Lawsuit Over False Advertising of its "Miracle Cold Buster"

Airborne Settles Lawsuit Over False Advertising of its "Miracle Cold Buster" (Date Posted: 3/4/2008) On March 4, 3008, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) announced that the makers of Airborne -- a multivitamin and herbal supplement whose labels and ads falsely claimed that the product cures and prevents colds -- will refund money to consumers who bought the product, as part of a $23.3 million class action settlement agreement. The company will pay for ads in Better Homes & Gardens, Parade, People, Newsweek, and many other magazines and newspapers instructing consumers how to get refunds. Concocted by second-grade teacher Victoria Knight McDowell and her screenwriter husband Thomas Rider McDowell, Airborne promised to “boost your immune system to help your body combat germs” and instructed users to “take it at the first sign of a cold symptom or before entering crowded, potentially germ-infested environments.” The company’s folksy “created by a school teacher!” slogan and insistence that the product be stocked with real cold, cough, and flu medicines instead of with dietary supplements, helped turn the company into an overnight success, as did an appearance by Victoria Knight McDowell on the Oprah Winfrey Show. But in February 2006, ABC News revealed on Good Morning America that Airborne’s much-touted lone clinical trial was actually conducted without any doctors or scientists, just a “two-man operation started up just to do the Airborne study.” Soon after the plaintiff notified Airborne of his intent to file suit in March 2006, the company stopped mentioning the study and began toning down the overt cold-curing claims in favor of vague “immunity boosting” language. Next, in 2007, the Federal Trade Commission and a group of state attorneys general began investigating the various “cold busting” claims that Airborne has made since its launch in 1999. Those investigations are continuing, since the packages’ cartoony germs and suggestion for use in “school, playgrounds, airplanes” and other crowded spots still imply that Airborne is aimed at the common cold. Airborne’s basic formula contains Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as other nutrients common in multivitamins; the amino acids glutamine and lysine, and an “herbal extract proprietary blend.” CSPI cautions that Airborne may provide too much vitamin A, since just two pills provide 10,000 IU­the maximum safe level for a day­and the package directs customers to take three per day. In addition to several flavors of the original formula, other Airborne products include “Power Pixies,” an artificially sweetened powder version for children; Airborne Seasonal, which is described as a “non-drowsy formula containing a nutritional blend which promotes normal histamine levels”; Airborne On-the-Go; and Airborne Nighttime. “There’s no credible evidence that what’s in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment,” said CSPI senior nutritionist David Schardt, who reviewed Airborne’s claims. “Airborne is basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that’s been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed.” Consumers seeking refunds for purchases of Airborne can obtain a claim form by writing to the Airborne Class Action Settlement Administrator, PO Box 1897, Faribault, MN 55021-7152, calling 1-888-952-9080, or by visiting www.AirborneHealthSettlement.com.http://www.cspinet.org/new/200803032.html

[Guest guest]

I was willing to try the airborne, until I found they use aspartame.

 

Theresa

 

Bob, Theresa & Benjamin WegnerNovelty FarmSt James MO

 

www.noveltyfarm.com

[Guest guest]

At 07:26 AM 3/20/2008, you wrote:

I'm confused .....I got it from a site that said it was posted March 4,

2008. Doubled checked my clock, and it's also 2008. Not sure what you

meant.....

Ah, OK, just noticed what you meant......No doubt a typo in the original

article. Good catch!!!

Lynn

 

Anyone else notice that this was

posted 1000 years in the future?... ;-)

 

I have an ex-coworker that swears by this " Airborne " stuff

while I have never even tried it.

 

Kenneth T

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Lynn Ward

To:

 

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:45 PM

Airborne Settles Lawsuit Over False

Advertising of its " Miracle Cold Buster "

Airborne Settles Lawsuit Over False

Advertising of its " Miracle Cold

Buster "

 

(Date Posted: 3/4/2008)

 

On March 4, 3008, the Center for Science in

the Public Interest (CSPI) announced that the makers of Airborne -- a

multivitamin and herbal supplement whose labels and ads falsely claimed

that the product cures and prevents colds -- will refund money to

consumers who bought the product, as part of a $23.3 million class action

settlement agreement. The company will pay for ads in Better Homes &

Gardens, Parade, People, Newsweek, and many other magazines and

newspapers instructing consumers how to get refunds.

Concocted by second-grade teacher Victoria Knight McDowell and her

screenwriter husband Thomas Rider McDowell, Airborne promised to “boost

your immune system to help your body combat germs” and instructed users

to “take it at the first sign of a cold symptom or before entering

crowded, potentially germ-infested environments.” The company’s folksy

“created by a school teacher!” slogan and insistence that the product be

stocked with real cold, cough, and flu medicines instead of with dietary

supplements, helped turn the company into an overnight success, as did an

appearance by Victoria Knight McDowell on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

 

But in February 2006, ABC News revealed on Good Morning America that

Airborne’s much-touted lone clinical trial was actually conducted without

any doctors or scientists, just a “two-man operation started up just to

do the Airborne study.” Soon after the plaintiff notified Airborne of his

intent to file suit in March 2006, the company stopped mentioning the

study and began toning down the overt cold-curing claims in favor of

vague “immunity boosting” language. Next, in 2007, the Federal Trade

Commission and a group of state attorneys general began investigating the

various “cold busting” claims that Airborne has made since its launch in

1999. Those investigations are continuing, since the packages’ cartoony

germs and suggestion for use in “school, playgrounds, airplanes” and

other crowded spots still imply that Airborne is aimed at the common

cold.

Airborne’s basic formula contains Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as

other nutrients common in multivitamins; the amino acids glutamine and

lysine, and an “herbal extract proprietary blend.” CSPI cautions that

Airborne may provide too much vitamin A, since just two pills provide

10,000 IU­the maximum safe level for a day­and the package directs

customers to take three per day. In addition to several flavors of the

original formula, other Airborne products include “Power Pixies,” an

artificially sweetened powder version for children; Airborne Seasonal,

which is described as a “non-drowsy formula containing a nutritional

blend which promotes normal histamine levels”; Airborne On-the-Go; and

Airborne Nighttime.

“There’s no credible evidence that what’s in Airborne can prevent

colds or protect you from a germy environment,” said CSPI senior

nutritionist David Schardt, who reviewed Airborne’s claims. “Airborne is

basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that’s been

cleverly, but deceptively, marketed.”

Consumers seeking refunds for purchases of Airborne can obtain a

claim form by writing to the Airborne Class Action Settlement

Administrator, PO Box 1897, Faribault, MN 55021-7152, calling

1-888-952-9080, or by visiting

 

www.AirborneHealthSettlement.com.

 

 

 

http://www.cspinet.org/new/200803032.html