DSSRC Administrative Closure #98
The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding two Instagram posts and one Facebook post disseminated by the Company’s salesforce members. The subject claims and social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace.
The Facebook post expressly stated that use of the Company’s product could “… help keep coronavirus away.” The two Instagram posts included product descriptions accompanied by hashtags referencing the coronavirus and COVID-19. DSSRC noted that at the time the posts were made, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the Food Drug Administration have all stated that there are no approved vaccines, drugs or investigational products currently available to treat or prevent COVID-19.
In its response, the Company stated that it contacted the independent salesforce members responsible for the social media posts. Shortly after receipt of the DSSRC inquiry, the Facebook post and one of the Instagram posts were removed. The second Instagram post was modified to remove the hashtags referencing COVID-19 and the coronavirus. Based upon the Company’s prompt actions to address DSSRC’s concerns, the matter was administratively closed.
(closed on 10/28/2020)