DSSRC Administrative Closure #161

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding four Facebook posts that were disseminated by salesforce members of the Company. All four of the post conveyed strong health-related product claims including the message that the Company’s products were effective to treat serious health conditions such as COVID-19, ADHD, dementia, Alzheimer’s and depression, among other maladies. 

DSSRC originally did not receive a response to its inquiry due to changes in personnel at the Company headquarters. Subsequently, the Company reached out to DSSRC and immediately engaged in a substantive conversation which resulted in the prompt removal of the four Facebook posts.

DSSRC was encouraged by the commitment demonstrated by the Company’s new compliance team and administratively closed the matter based upon the good faith actions of the Company to address its concerns. DSSRC informed the Company that it would continue to closely monitor the messages being communicated on social media by the Company’s salesforce members and would commence a formal self-regulatory inquiry should it appear that the Company or its salesforce members continue to disseminate the same or similar serious disease claims in the future.

(closed on 4/23/2021)

 

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 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.”

Read the Decision Summary
Decision

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. 

Read the Decision Summary
Decision

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...

Read the Decision Summary
Decision

National Advertising Division Finds Certain Fenty Skin Melt AWF Cleanser Performance Claims Supported; Recommends Modifications to Disclosures

New York, NY – April 12, 2024 – The National Advertising Division determined, as part of its routine monitoring program, that Fenty Skin LLC provided a reasonable basis for certain claims for its Melt AWF Jelly Oil Makeup-Melting Cleanser.

Read the Decision Summary