BBB National Programs Decision Summaries

The National Advertising Division has referred advertising claims made by Steuart Laboratories, Inc., for its Steuart’s Pain Formula, to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the second time, following the company’s repeated failures to provide substantiation for challenged advertising claims.

A five-member panel of the National Advertising Review Board (NARB) has recommended that Clarion Brands LLC modify or discontinue certain claims for the company’s Lipo-Flavonoid Plus dietary supplement, including claims made through testimonials, that state or imply that the product substantially reduces or eliminates tinnitus and the symptoms of Ménière’s Disease, a disorder of the inner ear.

Reckitt Benckiser LLC said it will permanently discontinue the advertising claim “Rated Best Buy 3 Years in a row*” (*Finish Powerball All in 1 was rated Best Buy by a leading Consumer Magazine in 2011, 2012 and 2013) following a challenge before the National Advertising Division (NAD).

The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) has recommended that WS Publishing Group, Inc., owner of the educational “Friendzy” mobile applications, modify certain practices to better protect children’s privacy. The company has agreed to do so.

The National Advertising Division has recommended that General Mills, Inc., modify or discontinue certain broadcast advertisements for the company’s Progresso-brand soups, finding that the advertising conveyed the unsupported message that most or all of the ingredients are sourced from farms in rural, southern New Jersey. NAD determined, however, that the advertising did not convey a “small company” message and found that the advertiser provided a reasonable basis for the claim “Vineland, NJ: Home of Progresso.”

Reynolds Consumer Products, LLC, has said that it will permanently discontinue challenged claims for the company’s “Heat & Eat Food Storage Containers,” following an inquiry by the National Advertising Division.

The National Advertising Division has referred certain advertising claims made by LEI Electronics Inc., the maker of Eco Alkalines brand batteries, to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for further review, following the advertiser’s assertion that it would not comply with certain of NAD’s recommendations.

The majority of a panel of the National Advertising Review Board (NARB) has determined that the National Advertising Division (NAD) acted appropriately when it decided against administratively closing its review of advertising claims made by Colgate Palmolive Company, for its Tom’s of Maine “Naturally Dry” antiperspirant.

The National Advertising Division has referred to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advertising claims made by New Nordic U.S.A., Inc. for its Skin Care Collagen Filler dietary supplement. The referral follows a review of the advertiser’s compliance with a previous NAD decision.

The National Advertising Division has recommended that Rust-Oleum Corporation discontinue claims that state or suggest its “Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover 2X Spray Paint” provides twice as much coverage as competing spray paint products and change the product name