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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6/29/2021 - National Advertising Division Refers TikTok Influencer Advertising for Coldest Water Bottle to Federal Trade Commission for Further Review
New York, NY – June 29, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs has referred advertising claims made by The Coldest Water, LLC to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for review. Through its ad monitoring program, NAD inquired about numerous TikTok videos by influencers featuring the reusable, insulated Coldest Water bottle. The advertiser did not respond to NAD’s request to provide support for its claims.
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6/29/2021 - National Advertising Division Recommends Life Renew Discontinue Certain Claims for its NerveRenew Dietary Supplement
New York, NY – June 29, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Neuropathy Treatment Group, d/b/a Life Renew, discontinue the following claims for its NerveRenew dietary supplement: “100% Stabilized R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA) is our most important ingredient," “It contains the most powerful and clinically studied forms of B vitamins, Stabilized R Alpha Lipoic Acid, anti-oxidants and herbal extracts. All the ingredients have been included in clinical studies and provide a synergistic effect when taken together," and “3X Greater Bioavailability." The claims at issue were challenged by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).
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6/24/2021 - National Advertising Division Recommends Audien, LLC Discontinue “Tinnitus Management” and Comparative Pricing Claims for its Rechargeable Hearing Aids
New York, NY – June 24, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Audien, LLC discontinue the following claims for its rechargeable hearing aid: “Rechargeable Hearing Aids for $89/pair*”, “Similar technology to $5000 hearing aids", and “Can be used for Tinnitus management.” These claims, which appeared in internet advertising, were challenged by NAD as part of the independent non-profit organization’s routine monitoring program.
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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.
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6/17/2021 - National Advertising Review Board Recommends Colgate Discontinue “Removes 10 Years of Yellow Stains” Claim for Optic White Renewal Toothpaste
New York, NY – June 17, 2021 – A panel of the National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate advertising law body of BBB National Programs, has recommended that Colgate-Palmolive Company discontinue the claim that Optic White Renewal Toothpaste “removes 10 years of yellow stains” based on its determination that the claim is not supported by the advertiser’s evidence.
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6/16/2021 - National Advertising Review Board Recommends Boost Mobile Discontinue “Unlimited Data” Claim for 4G LTE Data Plans
New York, NY – June 16, 2021 – A panel of the National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate advertising law body of BBB National Programs, has recommended that Boost Mobile discontinue the claim “unlimited data” for its “Go Unlimited” data plans based on its determination that Boost Mobile failed to provide proper support for the use of the “unlimited data” claim as reasonable consumers understand that term. The advertising at issue, along with certain other claims for Boost Mobile’s “Go Unlimited” plans, had been challenged by AT&T Services, Inc. before the National Advertising Division (NAD).
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6/15/2021 - National Advertising Division Recommends Charter Communications Discontinue or Modify Certain TV Commercial Claims for Spectrum Internet
New York, NY – June 15, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Charter Communications, Inc. discontinue or modify certain comparative speed claims for its Spectrum Internet service versus AT&T, which appeared in its “Welcome Back Party” and “Great Offers” television commercials. The claims at issue were challenged by AT&T Services, Inc. and included express and implied claims.
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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.
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6/08/2021 - National Advertising Division Finds Certain Claims for Crest Whitening Emulsions Supported; Recommends Discontinuation or Modification of Others
New York, NY – June 8, 2021 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) provided a reasonable basis for claims that its Crest Whitening Emulsions provide “better” or “100% whiter” results and that it “whitens better” than P&G’s own ARC Pen, but recommended that P&G modify its advertising to clearly and conspicuously disclose that the object of its comparative claims is the ARC Pen. NAD also found that P&G provided a reasonable basis for its “virtually no sensitivity” claim. NAD recommended that P&G modify the claims “faster” and “5x active peroxide droplets suspended in a hydrating base to whiten teeth,” discontinue or modify the claim “stops stains before they set in,” and discontinue certain other claims.
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5/27/2021 - Children’s Advertising Review Unit Recommends IMC Toys Include “Non-Edible” Disclosure in Cry Babies Magic Tears Tutti Frutti Doll Advertisement
New York, NY – May 27, 2021 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) recommended that IMC Toys USA Inc. modify its television advertisement promoting the Cry Babies Magic Tears Tutti Frutti doll to include a clear and conspicuous disclosure that children should not consume the jell-like substance produced by the doll. CARU also recommended that future advertisements not refer to the tears as jelly. IMC Toys has informed CARU that the ad is no longer running and that it will not run in the current format again.