Zinzino Agrees to Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Recommendation to Modify and Discontinue Certain Product Performance and Earnings Claims

McLean, VA – June 17, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) of BBB National Programs announced the modification and discontinuation of certain product performance and earnings claims made by Zinzino LLC, with two other such claims awaiting final resolution by the nutritional supplements direct selling company. 

The DSSRC inquiry was commenced through the non-profit watchdog’s ongoing independent monitoring of advertising and marketing claims in the direct selling industry. The claims that were the subject of the inquiry were disseminated by Zinzino salesforce members on social media as well as on the Zinzino company website and included, but were not limited to:

Product Claims

• “COVID-19 Solution: Omega 3 and Vitamin-D can help with this disease”
• “CORONA VIRUS PROTECTION: My Recommendation and what we use. You can choose from several packages to suit your needs, but each is based on Balance Oil which can eliminate cellular inflammation to make cell membranes more permeable”

Earnings Claim

• “Zinzino represents a unique opportunity. Start part-time or full-time self-employment with minimal risk. As an independent partner you will experience the joy that comes from selling breakthrough products that really change lives. Take the first step towards health and wealth today.”

Zinzino, headquartered in Frölunda, Sweden with a subsidiary in Jupiter, Florida.  did not dispute that the Company’s products were not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and there was no testing data provided by Zinzino into the case record indicating that its products are effective against the coronavirus.

Zinzino participated in the DSSRC process in good faith, discontinuing one of the social media posts, and taking immediate action to request that both the second product performance social media post and the website earnings claim be removed. 

DSSRC requested copies of its communication to the salesforce member responsible for the second product performance social media post, asking the salesforce member to remove the post. Zinzino has not yet provided DSSRC with copies of the correspondence to the salesforce member and, accordingly, there was no indication given regarding the subsequent enforcement measures, if any, that were taken against the salesforce member. 

Regarding the website earnings claim, DSSRC concluded that the claim on the Zinzino website could be reasonably interpreted by consumers as meaning that they can expect to earn significant (i.e., “full-time”) income from the Zinzino business opportunity. Moreover, DSSRC determined that the statement “Take the first step towards … wealth today” contributed to such a take-away.

Although Zinzino indicated that it submitted a request to their compliance committee to remove or significantly revise the statement, the claim remained on the website in its original context throughout the pendency of the DSSRC inquiry. DSSRC recommends that Zinzino take immediate steps to remove or significantly modify the statement. 

Zinzino’s company statement said “Zinzino appreciates the recommendation of the DSSRC. The Company is in the process of revising the website and contacting the salesforce members responsible for the remaining post. This correspondence will confirm that Zinzino agrees to adhere to your recommendations in full.”

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