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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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1/13/2021 - DSSRC Refers Health-Related Product and Earnings Claims for Gano Excel to FTC
McLean, VA – January 13, 2021 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) referred certain product performance and income claims made by Gano Excel USA to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for possible enforcement action after Gano Excel 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 Gano Excel’s products can prevent and/or treat several serious health-related conditions, including COVID-19. In addition, Gano Excel salesforce members have made egregious representations in social media posts about income that can be earned as a member of the Gano Excel salesforce.
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11/18/2020 - DSSRC Refers Health-Related Product and Earnings Claims for Flavon USA to FTC
McLean, VA – November 18, 2020 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) of BBB National Programs today referred certain marketing claims made by Flavon USA, LLC (Flavon) to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for possible enforcement action after Flavon failed to participate in the self-regulatory process and provide substantiation for the claims. At issue in DSSRC’s inquiry earnings and health-related product claims implying that Flavon’s products, dietary vegetable, and fruit concentrate dietary supplements, can treat and prevent a number of health-related conditions.
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11/05/2020 - Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Refers Business Opportunity Claims for Fortress Network, LLC to the FTC
New York, NY – November 5, 2020 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) has referred certain marketing claims made by Fortress Network, LLC to the FTC for possible enforcement action after Fortress failed to participate in the self-regulatory process. At issue in DSSRC’s inquiry were income and business opportunity representations made by the peer-to-peer marketing platform concerning the amount of money that Fortress salesforce members could reasonably expect to earn from related business opportunities.
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11/04/2020 - DSSRC Recommends Direct Selling Company LurraLife Discontinue Certain Earnings and Health-Related Product Claims
McLean, VA – November 4, 2020 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) challenged certain unsubstantiated earnings and health-related/wellness benefit product claims made by LurraLife, a multi-level direct selling company. In response to DSSRC’s request for substantiation of the challenged claims, LurraLife removed the videos and ads in question and requested the same action be taken by its corporate brand partners. The claims were challenged as a result of the DSSRC’s routine monitoring program.
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4/07/2020 - Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Refers Health-Related Product Claims by New U Life, Inc. to the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration
The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) has referred certain health-related claims made by New U Life, Inc. (“New U Life” or the “Company”) for its Somaderm hGH transdermal gel to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for possible enforcement action after the Company failed to comply with DSSRC’s recommendations to modify or discontinue such claims. The health-related product claims at issue in DSSRC’s inquiry pertained to product efficacy as well as claims that Somaderm product was “FDA Registered” and that the product had clinical applications. In addition, the DSSRC inquiry also included a number of additional health-related claims (e.g., “Regrowth of heart, liver, spleen, kidney and other organs that shrink with age”; “14.4% loss of fat on average after six months without dieting”; “Superior immune function”; “Greater cardiac output”; “Superior immune function,” etc.) and a number of before-and-after depictions purportedly demonstrating the results received from using the product. -
2/07/2020 - Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Refers Health-Related Product Claims Disseminated by Dose of Nature to the Federal Trade Commission
February 7, 2020 – New York, NY – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) has referred certain marketing claims made by Dose of Nature (“Dose of Nature” or the “Company”) for its water-soluble CBD and nano CBD products for humans and animals to the Federal Trade Commission.