In a continuing crackdown on companies making unproven claims about cold and flu remedies, the Federal Trade Commission has announced two more cases.
National pharmacy chain Walgreens has agreed to pay nearly $6 million to settle FTC charges that the company deceptively advertised “Wal-Born” – a line of dietary supplements similar to the Airborne cold-and-flu treatment – using the same kind of baseless claims that the supplements could prevent colds, fight germs, and boost the immune system.
In addition to the proposed Walgreens agreement, a federal court has approved a settlement in a separate case that will require a $565,000 payment by the two principal officers of Improvita Health Products Inc., the manufacturer of Walgreens’ “Wal-Born” and other supplements. The FTC suit against the corporate defendant, Improvita Health Products, Inc., remains in litigation.
