National Advertising Division Refers Matter of Pyle Audio, Inc.’s NutriChef Vacuum Sealer Review Claims to Government Agencies for Possible Enforcement Action

New York, NY – April 10, 2019 – The National Advertising Division has referred advertising by Pyle Audio, Inc. involving customer reviews for its NutriChef Vacuum Sealers to the appropriate government agencies for further review following the advertiser’s failure to respond to NAD’s inquiry. The challenge was brought to the attention of the NAD by Newell Brands, Inc., a maker of competing vacuum sealers.

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

Newell Brands alleged that Pyle Audio, Inc. encourages users of its NutriChef products to write positive reviews in exchange for free product, while failing to disclose that the reviews are incentivized. Newell argued that these reviews, which number in the thousands on Amazon.com, mistakenly appear to consumers as unbiased and create the impression that consumers have a more favorable view of NutriChef vacuum sealers than is actually the case.

In light of the advertiser’s failure to provide a substantive response to NAD or participate in any way in the self-regulatory process, NAD has referred the matter to the appropriate government agencies for possible enforcement action.

Note: A recommendation by NAD to modify or discontinue a claim is not a finding of wrongdoing and an advertiser’s voluntary discontinuance or modification of claims should not be construed as an admission of impropriety. It is the policy of NAD not to endorse any company, product, or service. Decisions finding that advertising claims have been substantiated should not be construed as endorsements.