False Advertising Lawsuit against Airborne Settled

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March 5th, 2008

"Class Action Suit Settled for $23 Million"

The maker of the popular herbal supplement Airborne has agreed to settle a class action consumer fraud lawsuit for $23 million, according to the nonprofit advocacy group the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Deceptive Marketing Practices

Airborne was first sued for false advertising in March 2006 over claims that its product “boosts the immune system with seven herbal extracts and a proprietary blend of vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants.”

Later that year, the CSPI joined the lawsuit and the Federal Trade Commission began looking into the company’s claims in 2007.

According to the company’s marketing campaign, Airborne was developed by a second grade teacher who “studied the benefits of herbal therapies used in Eastern medicine.”

No Evidence to Support Claims

In 2006, ABC News reported that clinical trials of Airborne were carried out by laypeople, not scientists or doctors.

“There’s no evidence that what’s in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment. Airborne is basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that’s been cleverly, but deceptively marketed,” said CSPI nutritionist David Schardt.

The company did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which will be used to reimburse consumers who purchased the Airborne product.

(Source: CNNMoney.com)

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