July 30, 2003
A Canadian-based company operating in the United States under the name Bio Lab, and its president, Jean-Francois Brochu, have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they deceived consumers through false and unsubstantiated advertising of their weight-loss and cellulite treatment products.
The FTC alleged that the defendants made numerous false and unsubstantiated claims for their Quick Slim Fat Blocker and Cellu-Fight products.
Specifically, the FTC alleged that the defendants falsely represented that Quick Slim causes rapid and substantial weight loss, including as much as 2 pounds per day, without dieting or increasing exercise, and that the weight loss would be permanent. The FTC also alleged that the defendants falsely represented that Cellu-Fight is clinically proven to eliminate cellulite from the stomach, backside, hips, and thighs.
The settlement prohibits the defendants from representing that their weight loss products will cause rapid or substantial weight loss without the need to diet or exercise, or that they will cause permanent weight loss. The settlement also prohibits the defendants from representing that their cellulite treatment products will reduce or eliminate cellulite.
In addition, the order prohibits unsubstantiated claims regarding the efficacy of any weight-loss or cellulite treatment product, as well as unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits, performance, efficacy, safety, or side effects of health-related products, programs, or services, including any dietary supplement, food, drug, device, or cosmetic.
The final order enables the FTC to take possession of thousands of pieces of consumer mail held for the defendants at Mail Boxes, Etc. locations in the United States so that the FTC can return the product orders to consumers. The estimated value of these unfulfilled product orders is over $100,000.
The order also prohibits the defendants from selling or otherwise disclosing their customer mailing lists for Quick Slim or Cellu-Fight to other marketers.
Further, the order requires the defendants to pay $40,000 (U.S. dollars) for consumer redress.
