DSSRC Administrative Closure #80

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding two Facebook posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the posts conveyed the unsupported health-related message that the Company’s direct selling products can protect against COVID-19.

 

The first Facebook post claimed that the Company’s product can help boost the immune system and protect against COVID-19. The second Facebook post included two hashtags - #covid and #coronavirus.

Shortly after DSSRC commenced the inquiry, the Company removed the first Facebook and modified the second post by removing the two hashtags that referenced COVID-19 and the coronavirus. DSSRC determined that the Company’s voluntary actions were necessary and appropriate. There are no approved vaccines, investigational products currently available to treat or prevent COVID-19 and DSSRC reminded the Company to exercise extreme caution in the dissemination of health-related product claims in their marketing materials and that neither the Company nor its salesforce members should imply that its products treat or alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19

As a result of the prompt actions taken by the Company, DSSRC administratively closed the inquiry. pursuant to section 2(II)(6) of the DSSRC Procedures. 

(closed on 10/19/2020)