DSSRC Administrative Closure #103

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (Company) regarding three Facebook posts disseminated by its 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.

DSSRC expressed concern that the social media posts communicated the message that the Company’s products can protect consumers against a number of health-related conditions and conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits.

DSSRC expressed concern about the first post which urged consumers to try the company’s newest product and which included unsupported claims related to lowering blood sugar and diabetes. The post additionally stated that the product could lead to weight loss, fat loss, appetite control, boost metabolism and increase energy. The second post contained claims that the Company products could potentially relieve consumers from diabetes, high blood pressure, acid reflux, high cholesterol “and many other health issues.” The last post contained a personal account from a Company salesforce member stating that use of the product led her to discontinue intake of her diabetes medication due to her blood sugar normalizing. 

In response to DSSRC’s inquiry, the company promptly removed all three social media posts. Additionally, the company stated that it has been monitoring and advising their distributors regularly to not make any health or income claims and will increase its compliance oversight with respect to such messages.

Accordingly, based upon the prompt actions taken by the Company to disable the posts and address our concerns, DSSRC administratively closed the inquiry and will continue to monitor the messages being communicated by its salesforce members to make sure that the Company is adhering to its commitment to supervise its salesforce members and refrain from communicating claims that Company products can treat or alleviate the symptoms of health-related conditions.

(closed on 11/9/20)