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8/10/2022 - Moose Toys Discontinues its Fail Fix Dolls Advertising to Comply with Children’s Advertising Review Unit Guidelines on Negative Social Stereotypes
McLean, VA – August 10, 2022 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) has determined that Moose Toys product advertising to children for its Fail Fix Total Makeover Dolls failed to comply with CARU’s Advertising Guidelines, specifically a provision stating that advertising should not portray or encourage negative social stereotyping, prejudice, or discrimination.
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8/04/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends SmileDirectClub Discontinue Comparative “2X Whiter” and “2X Faster” Whitening Strips Claims
New York, NY – August 4, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that SmileDirectClub discontinue claims that its Fast-Dissolving Whitening Strips get teeth “2X whiter than Crest Classic White Whitestrips” and whiten teeth “2X faster than Crest Classic White Whitestrips.” These claims were challenged by Procter & Gamble Company, maker of a variety of Crest Whitestrips products.
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8/03/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds Certain WaterWipes Claims for Infant Cleansing Wipes Supported, Recommends Others be Discontinued
New York, NY – August 3, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that certain claims made by WaterWipes regarding the type and purity of ingredients used in its infant cleansing wipes were supported in context. However, NAD found that other claims that expressly or impliedly convey that competing baby wipes with more ingredients are harmful or can “cause or exacerbate diaper rash” were unsupported and recommended that they be discontinued.
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8/02/2022 - Children’s Advertising Review Unit Finds Firefly Games in Violation of COPPA and CARU’s Advertising and Privacy Guidelines; Company Agrees to Corrective Actions
McLean, VA – August 2, 2022 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) of BBB National Programs has found Firefly Games, owner and operator of the LOL Surprise! Room Makeover app, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Advertising and for Children’s Online Privacy Protection. Firefly Games agreed to correct the violations.
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7/26/2022 - Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Recommends Root Wellness Discontinue Certain Health-Related Product Claims in Compliance Inquiry
McLean, VA – July 26, 2022 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) opened a compliance inquiry to review advertising communicated by Root Wellness LLC that had been the subject of an inquiry from 2021. In this compliance inquiry, DSSRC identified four claims challenged in the 2021 inquiry that are still publicly accessible, as well as 29 new health-related claims, among other issues.
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7/21/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds SmileDirectClub “60% Less Than Invisalign” Claim Supported with Modifications
New York, NY – July 21, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that SmileDirectClub, LLC's claim that its treatment costs "60% less than Invisalign," without further qualification, was overly broad.
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7/14/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds “#1 CDP” Claims for Twilio Customer Data Platform Supported, With Qualification
New York, NY – July 14, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that Twilio Inc. provided a reasonable basis for claims that its customer data platform is the “#1 CDP,” provided it makes clear that the basis for such claim is 2020 market share, as measured by the International Data Corporation (IDC). Accordingly, NAD recommended that the advertiser make certain modifications to the claim as it appears in Google search results, press releases, a Twilio billboard, and on Twilio’s website.
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7/14/2022 - Primark Modifies its Advertising to Comply with Children’s Advertising Review Unit Guidelines
McLean, VA – July 14, 2022 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) has determined that Primark US Corp.’s product advertising to children failed to comply with CARU’s Advertising Guidelines, specifically a new provision, which became effective in January of this year, stating that advertising should not portray or encourage negative social stereotyping, prejudice, or discrimination. CARU recommended that the advertiser modify its gender-restrictive advertising and Primark has agreed to the modifications.
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7/13/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends Sanofi Discontinue “#1 Doctor Recommended” Claims for Zantac 360; Sanofi to Appeal
New York, NY – July 13, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Sanofi Consumer Healthcare discontinue “#1 doctor recommended” claims for its Zantac 360 heartburn medicine. Sanofi will appeal NAD’s decision. The claims, which appeared on Sanofi’s social media pages, the websites of third-party retailers, and in a television commercial, were challenged by Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., manufacturer of competing Pepcid products.
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7/07/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends SharkNinja Modify or Discontinue Various Comparative Superiority Claims for Shark HyperAir Hair Dryer
New York, NY – July 7, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that SharkNinja modify or discontinue various challenged express and implied claims made in a 30-minute infomercial where its Shark HyperAir hair dryer is compared in various ways to the Dyson Supersonic and traditional hair dryers.
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7/06/2022 - Children’s Advertising Review Unit Finds Outright Games in Violation of COPPA and CARU’s Advertising and Privacy Guidelines; Company Agrees to Corrective Actions
McLean, VA – July 6, 2022 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) has found Outright Games, owner and operator of the Bratz Total Fashion Makeover app, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Advertising and for Children’s Online Privacy Protection. Outright Games agreed to correct the violations.
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6/29/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends Dakota Nutrition Discontinue Claims that Dietary Supplements Contain Elderberry
New York, NY – June 29, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that Dakota Nutrition, Inc. discontinue challenged express and implied claims that its dietary supplements contain the ingredient elderberry. This recommendation applies to marketing claims for three products: Extra Strength Elderberry 3-in-1 Immune Booster Capsules, Extra Strength Elderberry Gummies, and Immune Defense 7-in-1 Immune Booster Capsules.
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6/28/2022 - In Two Fast-Track SWIFT Cases, National Advertising Division Recommends Advertiser Claims be Discontinued in One, Modification of Disclosures in Other
New York, NY – June 28, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs closed two Fast-Track SWIFT cases in May 2022. In these cases, AT&T Services, Inc. challenged Charter Communications, Inc.’s (Spectrum) claim that AT&T’s internet service provides unreliable and glitchy internet connectivity to a consumer-noticeable degree for the activities depicted in the commercial, and T-Mobile Puerto Rico, LLC challenged disclosures made by Liberty Mobile Puerto Rico Inc. in connection with certain wireless network performance claims.
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6/23/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds Challenged DuckDuckGo Privacy Claims Supported; Recommends Clarifications for Use of App
New York, NY – June 23, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that DuckDuckGo provided a reasonable basis for certain claims related to its Privacy Browser mobile app and Privacy Essentials desktop extension. However, NAD recommended that to ensure consumers understand the scope of DuckDuckGo’s privacy protections, DuckDuckGo should modify the challenged advertising to make clear that this protection does not extend to the use of search engines and apps outside of the DuckDuckGo solution.
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6/22/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds Brave, Inc. Claim that it Does Not Share Data with Third Parties Supported; Recommends Two Other Claims be Discontinued
New York, NY – June 22, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that Brave, Inc. supported the implied claim that its Brave web browser does not share personal data with third parties. However, NAD recommended that the advertiser discontinue two other claims. Brave is an open-source privacy company that offers Shields, a web browser feature that, according to the advertiser, protects a user’s privacy by blocking network requests for third-party advertising and tracking.
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6/15/2022 - Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Recommends Stella & DOT Discontinue Salesforce Member Earnings Claims
McLean, VA – June 15, 2022 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) recommended that certain earnings claims disseminated by Stella & DOT salesforce members be discontinued. Stella & DOT is a multi-level direct selling company that sells jewelry, bags, accessories, and women’s clothing headquartered in California. The inquiry was commenced by DSSRC through its ongoing independent monitoring of advertising and marketing claims in the direct selling industry.
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6/09/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends P&G Discontinue Odor Elimination Claims for Febreze Products; P&G to Appeal
New York, NY – June 9, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) discontinue certain “odor elimination” claims that P&G makes across the Febreze line of home fragrance products, which include the Febreze Air, Light, Fabric, Plug, Small Spaces, Candles, Wax Melts, Car, and Unstopable products. P&G will appeal NAD’s decision.
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6/07/2022 - National Advertising Division Finds Glee Gum’s “Plastic-Free” Claim Supported; Recommends “Made with Chicle,” Unqualified “Natural” Claims be Discontinued
New York, NY – June 7, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that Mazee, LLC provided a reasonable basis for claims that its Glee Gum is “plastic-free.” However, NAD recommended that the advertiser discontinue claims that the gum base of Glee Gum is “made with chicle,” unqualified natural claims (“natural”, “all-natural,” “100% natural”), as well as its “plant-based” claims, and unqualified “eco-friendly” claims. During the proceeding, the advertiser permanently discontinued and modified several challenged claims. NAD did not review the discontinued claims or pre-modification claims on the merits.
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6/01/2022 - NAD Finds “Whole Home and Building Purification” Claims for RGF Air Purification Devices Supported; Recommends Certain Other Claims be Discontinued
New York, NY – June 1, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that RGF Environmental Group, Inc., manufacturer of RGF Air Purification Devices, can make certain general efficacy claims, including that the REME HALO air purifier “provides whole home and building purification.” However, NAD recommended that the advertiser discontinue claims relating to the safety of the emissions generated by the RGF devices, certain quantity-related claims, and others.
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5/31/2022 - National Advertising Division Recommends i-Health Discontinue Health-Related Claims for Culturelle IBS Complete Support
New York, NY – May 31, 2022 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that i-Health, Inc. (DSM North America) discontinue health-related claims for its Culturelle IBS Complete Support. The claims, which appeared on product packaging, the advertiser’s website, and in third-party online advertising, were challenged by The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), a competing manufacturer of products aimed at gut health, including those containing probiotics and prebiotics.
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Latest Decisions
National Advertising Division Recommends Blueprint Test Preparation Discontinue Certain MCAT Score Improvement Claims
New York, NY – April 22, 2024 – The National Advertising Division recommended Blueprint Test Preparation discontinue certain express and implied claims made in connection with its four MCAT preparation courses, including claims that Blueprint students raise their MCAT scores by 15 or 13 points on average.
National Advertising Division Recommends The Princeton Review Discontinue Point Increase Claims for MCAT Test Preparation Services
New York, NY – April 18, 2024 – In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge, the National Advertising Division recommended that The Princeton Review (TPR) discontinue claims that its students “Score a 515+ on the MCAT or add 15 points depending on your starting score. Guaranteed or your money back.”
Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Recommends Trades of Hope Discontinue Salesforce Member Earnings Claims
McLean, VA – April 17, 2024 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) recommended that Trades of Hope discontinue certain earnings claims made by salesforce members on Facebook and YouTube.
National Advertising Division Recommends Lily of the Desert Nutraceuticals Discontinue “100% Pure Avocado Oil” Claim for Tropical Plantation Avocado Oil
New York, NY – April 15, 2024 – The National Advertising Division recommended that Lily of the Desert Nutraceuticals discontinue the claim “100% Pure Avocado Oil” for its Tropical Plantation Avocado Oil and avoid conveying the unsupported message that the product is 100% pure avocado...