BBB National Programs Archive
Global Nutrition Sciences Participates In ERSP Forum
New York, NY –November 15, 2005 – The Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program (ERSP) announced that Global Nutrition Sciences, Inc. (GNS), marketers of the Slim Seduction nutritional supplement (Slim Seduction), has agreed to discontinue performance, establishment, permanency, and testimonial claims that were reviewed in the ERSP forum. The marketer’s advertis ing was reviewed pursuant to ERSP’s ongoing monitoring program.
ERSP, the electronic direct-response industry’s self-regulatory forum supervised by the National Advertising Review Council (NARC), asked GNS to provide substantiation for core claims made in advertising for Slim Seduction, including:
“Causes Fat and Cellulite to ‘Pop’ Like Bubble Wrap.” “Burns 937 Extra Calories a Day.”
“But, with the cells destroyed, the weight can’t come back!”
“Leading research scientists…caused subjects to lose 11 lbs of fat and cellulite even though they didn’t cut back on calories.”
“…I lost 11 lbs of fat and cellulite in the first 7 days!…and after just a few short weeks, I lost a total of 30lbs of unattractive fat, over 27 inches…”
ERSP recommended that the quantified weight loss claims made in the infomercial be discontinued until reliable testing can be provided which adequately demonstrates that the specified weight loss is consistent with consumer use of the product.
ERSP also recommended that any future advertising for Slim Seduction include a clear disclosure stating that any weight loss consumers may expect from use of this product will result only with
an accompanying regimen of diet and exercise. Further, given that GNS did not provide ERSP with verification of testing of the ingredients contained in Slim Seduction at corresponding concentrations was conducted, ERSP recommended modifying this claim to reflect the need to commit to a more permanent lifestyle change in order for permanent weight-loss to occur.
ERSP was concerned with the comparative performance claims communicated to consumers in the absence of any market analysis of Slim Seduction in comparison to other products on the market and with claims regarding the rapidity of results from using Slim Seduction. ERSP recommended the company discontinue such claims. Finally, ERSP recommended modifying consumer testimonials used in the Slim Seduction advertising to better reflect a typical consumer’s experience.
GNS, in its response to ERSP’s findings, said it “… supports the goals of ERSP and appreciates the opportunity to participate in the self-regulatory process. During the pendancy of the matter,
for reasons unrelated to the ERSP inquiry, GNS Inc. made the independent determination to cease the current Slim Seduction advertising campaign and the claims at issue. Although we do not
agree with some of the determinations made by ERSP, we have no present intention of using these claims in any future advertising and should we decide to implement any such claims in the future we will be sure to give great consideration to the determinations of the self-regulatory unit.”