NAD Refers Advertising from Green Tea Hawaii to FTC after Company Fails to Respond to NAD Inquiry

New York, NY – Aug. 19, 2013 – The National Advertising Division has referred certain advertising claims made by Green Tea Hawaii, LLC, to the Federal Trade Commission for further review, after the company failed to respond to an NAD inquiry.

NAD is an investigative unit of the advertising industry’s system of self-regulation. It is administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

As part of NAD’s initiative with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (“CRN” or “challenger”) designed to expand NAD review of advertising claims for dietary supplements, CRN challenged certain Internet advertising claims made by Green Tea Hawaii for the company’s Raspberry Ketone Drink.

Claims at issue included:

•  “… the greatest thing about raspberry ketones is that, when combined with green tea, you body’s ability to burn fat increases exponentially!”
•  “Clinical studies have shown that ingesting the 10:1 extract of Irvingia Gabonesis can lead to a weight loss of an average on 12.3 pounds in 8 weeks … also reduces bad cholesterol levels, sugar levels, while it boosts stamina and increase energy.”
•  “African Mango acts as a detoxifying agent in the body, almost scrubbing it clean of dirt and grime, like harmful toxins and free radicals.”
•  Green tea: lowers cholesterol, increases the rate at which your body burns calories, enhances fat oxidation, promotes the burning of fat, helps prevent obesity, acts as an appetite suppressant and increases energy levels.”
•  “Green tea also causes carbohydrates to be released at a slower, more balanced pace throughout your day, preventing sharp increases in blood-insulin levels.”
•  “By reducing drops or spikes in blood sugar, you increase energy and regulate mood. This will prevent binging due to sudden hunger spells.”

The challenger, although noting the claims might fall outside the scope of NAD’s review, expressed concern that some of the challenged claims imply that the advertised product may be used to mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

For example, the challenger pointed out, some claims refer to “reduced chance of adult onset diabetes,” “blood-insulin levels,” and the reduction or lowering of “bad cholesterol levels.”

The advertiser did not respond to NAD’s inquiry. Consequently, NAD has referred the matter to the Federal Trade Commission for possible law enforcement action.