BBB National Programs Decision Summaries

BBB National Programs provides summaries of all case decisions from the National Advertising Division (NAD), National Advertising Review Board (NARB), Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), and Digital Advertising Accountability Program (DAAP). Subscribe to receive a weekly wrap-up of published case decisions in your inbox.

 

For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the Online Archive. Other case decisions are available publicly: DSSRC and DAAP. For members of the press, the full text of any BBB National Programs decision is available by emailing the request to press@bbbnp.org.
  • 7/22/2021 - Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Recommends Mary Kay Modify and Discontinue Certain Social Media and Website Marketing Earnings Claims

    McLean, VA – July 22, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) recommended that Mary Kay Inc. modify or discontinue certain express and implied earnings, incentive, and lifestyle claims from social media and corporate marketing materials, including the Mary Kay website. These claims were made by Mary Kay, a company that sells skincare and cosmetic products through a variety of channels including direct sales, as well as by Mary Kay independent consultants. This inquiry, which included approximately 200 examples, was brought to DSSRC by a non-profit, non-governmental advocacy group (NGO).

  • 7/22/2021 - DSSRC Refers Earnings and Health-Related Product Performance Claims for Alliance in Motion to FTC

    McLean, VA – July 22, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) of BBB National Programs referred certain representative product performance and earnings claims to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for possible enforcement action after Alliance in Motion Global, a direct selling company that distributes and markets food supplements and premium blended beverages, failed to respond to DSSRC’s inquiry. At issue in DSSRC’s inquiry are earnings and health-related product performance claims disseminated on the company website and by salesforce members implying that Alliance in Motion’s products can protect against several serious health-related conditions, including COVID-19. 

  • 6/17/2021 - 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) announced the modification and discontinuation of certain product performance and earnings claims made by Zinzino LLC. 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.

  • 6/10/2021 - DSSRC Recommends Direct Selling Company Aihu Discontinue Certain Health-Related Product Performance Claims

    McLean, VA – June 10, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) opened an inquiry into several health-related product performance claims made on the company website and on social media by Aihu, Inc, a direct selling company that sells biodegradable, organic essential oil skincare products, and its salesforce members. The inquiry commenced through DSSRC’s ongoing independent monitoring of advertising and marketing claims in the direct selling industry. DSSRC was concerned that the representative claims communicated that Aihu’s products could protect against serious health-related conditions. 

  • 4/21/2021 - DSSRC Refers Health-Related Product and Earnings Claims for Bulavita to FTC

    McLean, VA – April 20, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) of BBB National Programs referred certain representative product performance and earnings claims to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for possible enforcement action after Bulavita failed to respond to DSSRC’s inquiry. At issue in DSSRC’s inquiry are earnings and health-related product performance claims disseminated on the company website and by salesforce members implying that Bulavita products can prevent and/or treat several serious health-related conditions, including COVID-19. In addition, Bulavita salesforce members have made misleading representations in social media posts about income that can be earned as a member of the Bulavita salesforce. 

  • 3/24/2021 - Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Refers Health-Related Product Performance Claims for UWell Life’s Primocyn Products to FTC

    McLean, VA – March 24, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) referred certain product performance claims for the Primocyn product line, made by UWell Life, Inc. and its salesforce members, to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for possible enforcement action after UWell Life failed to provide substantiation for the claims. At issue in DSSRC’s inquiry are product performance claims made on the Primocyn product website and disseminated by salesforce members on social media implying that Primocyn products can prevent and/or treat several serious health-related conditions, including COVID-19. In addition, UWell Life salesforce members implied that Primocyn products have been approved by the FDA. 

  • 3/08/2021 - DSSRC Recommends Direct Selling Company ONEHOPE Modify and Discontinue Certain Earnings Claims

    McLean, VA – March 8, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) opened an inquiry into several earnings claims made by ONEHOPE, a California-based direct selling company that sells wine, coffee, and other comfort beverages, including claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inquiry was commenced through DSSRC’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 on ONEHOPE’s website and the social media accounts of salesforce members.

    • 3/04/2021 - DSSRC Refers Health-Related Product and Earnings Claims for RBC Life Sciences to FTC

      McLean, VA – March 4, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) referred certain product performance and earnings claims made by RBC Life Sciences to the FTC for possible enforcement action after RBC Life Sciences failed to provide substantiation for the claims. At issue in DSSRC’s inquiry are earnings and health-related product performance claims disseminated by salesforce members implying that RBC Life Sciences products can prevent and/or treat several serious health-related conditions, including COVID-19. In addition, RBC Life Sciences’ salesforce members have made egregious representations in social media posts about income that can be earned as a member of the RBC Life Sciences salesforce. In addition, on its website, RBC Life Sciences falsely represented that it is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau and a member of the Direct Selling Association. 

    • 1/22/2021 - DSSRC Recommends Direct Selling Company Magnetude Jewelry Modify and Discontinue Certain Earnings and Product Claims

      McLean, VA – January 22, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) opened an inquiry into several product claims made by Magnetude Jewelry, a multi-level direct selling company that sells bio-magnetic interchangeable jewelry to consumers, as well as a “replace your income” earnings claim. The inquiry commenced through DSSRC’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 on Magnetude’s website and the social media accounts of salesforce members.

    • 1/20/2021 - DSSRC Recommends Primerica Discontinue or Modify Certain Business Opportunity Claims

      McLean, VA – January 20, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) inquired about certain business opportunity claims made by Primerica, Inc., a financial services company. In response to DSSRC’s request for substantiation of the challenged claims, which primarily appeared on social media, Primerica removed or significantly modified the claims in question, took proactive steps to address all concerns raised, and acted in good faith throughout the inquiry process. The inquiry, which focused on core express and implied earnings and lifestyle benefits arising from participation in Primerica’s business opportunity, were brought to DSSRC by a non-profit, non-governmental advocacy group (NGO).