Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Recommends Healy World Discontinue Health-Related and Earnings Claims in Compliance Inquiry

McLean, VA – May 21, 2024 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) of BBB National Programs has recommended that Healy World, Inc., a direct selling company that markets consumer health and wellness products, discontinue certain earnings and health-related product performance claims made on social media by its salesforce members.  

DSSRC is an independent national advertising self-regulation program that monitors advertising and marketing claims in the direct selling industry. At issue in this compliance case are social media earnings and health-related product performance claims similar to those identified in a 2023 case, such as:

  • “Relief from chronic, acute, and local pain. Arthritis, Fibromyalgia.....list goes on and on.”
  • “So bad thing is that I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.   Good news is I have a Healy!!!   I use it and it works!!  This little device is a miracle!  I am so grateful that Healy found its way into my life!!  There are some days that I can't event get out of bed with out using this first.  Thank you Healy!!! #frequencyhealing #frequencytherapy”
  • “Healy is a medical device for the treatment of chronic pain, fibromyalgia, skeletal pain and migraine as well as for the adjuvant therapy of mental illness such as depression, anxiety and associated sleep disorders.”
  • ⚡️ I’ve traveled the world extensively post c o v i d and I have not been sick once (and I’m on immuno suppressant drugs).
  • “This small machine is helping thousands of people with various ailments, such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, skeletal pain, migraines, and so much more!”
  • “Healy makes a program for everything from pain relief, support for anxiety and depression, hair skin and nails, anti-aging and so much more!”
  • “A man who had a stroke, arthritis, and diabetes, was wheelchair bound and couldn’t use the restroom for myself (sic), used the Healy for two weeks and three days and was able to walk on his own and use the restroom by himself.”
  • When the vagus nerve is affected, the body can experience a variety of health problems: pain, fatigue, poor focus, digestive problems, tinnitus, vision changes, headaches, anxiety, depression and inability to handle stress.”

 

Earnings claims at issue include:

  • “financial freedom”
  • “Healy also offers for those interested an (business) opportunity to supplement or replace the person's current income out of other activities, either part time or full time depending on the person's personal situation and wishes. Even more than this is for sure an option with Healy… Our goal is to upgrade people's lifestyle with better health and more time. financial & emotional freedom, stability & security.”

 

Once again, Healy World did not attempt to substantiate the claims that were challenged and DSSRC appreciated their prompt, good faith efforts to remove eight of the 11 challenged health-related claim social media posts and two of the three social media posts that communicated claims of financial freedom.

Healy World provided DSSRC with copies of the correspondence sent to the salesforce members responsible for the social media posts that remain publicly accessible. DSSRC recommended that Healy World take additional steps to have the posts removed, including using any tools available on social media for trademark or copyright violations, and for those platforms without a reporting mechanism send written correspondence to the platforms to ask that the posts be removed.

Healy World went a step further and made a public statement in the comment section of the posts to clearly indicate that the claims are not authorized. 

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of DSSRC decisions, visit the DSSRC Cases and Closures webpage.

 

Subscribe to the Ad Law Insights or Privacy Initiatives newsletters for an exclusive monthly analysis and insider perspectives on the latest trends and case decisions in advertising law and data privacy.

 

 

 

 

Latest Decisions

Decision

National Advertising Division Recommends Promotion in Motion Discontinue or Modify Certain Welch’s Fruit Snack Commercials

New York, NY – September 30, 2024 – The National Advertising Division recommended that PIM Brands discontinue certain television commercials for its Welch’s Fruit Snacks or modify the advertising to avoid conveying the message that competing fruit snacks are worthless.

Read the Decision
Decision

Following National Advertising Division Inquiry, Google Voluntarily Unlists Video Demonstrating Google Gemini Capabilities

New York, NY – September 12, 2024 – Google voluntarily unlisted a video demonstrating the capabilities of Google Gemini, its large language model artificial intelligence (AI) offering introduced in December 2023.

Read the Decision Summary
Decision

National Advertising Division Recommends Gruma Modify Sugar and Net Carbohydrate Label Claims

New York, NY – September 11, 2024 – In a challenge brought by competitor Olé, the National Advertising Division found certain “zero sugar” and “0G sugar” claims supported and recommended that Gruma Corporation, in connection with its tortilla product offerings, modify or discontinue other claims. 

Read the Decision Summary
Decision

Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Recommends MONAT Discontinue Earnings Claims

McLean, VA – September 5, 2024 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) recommended MONAT Global discontinue certain earnings claims made on the MONAT website and by salesforce members on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Read the Decision Summary