FTC Files Complaint Against Pom Juice Maker

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint against Pom Wonderful and its owners Lynda and Stewart Resnick, alleging that they violated federal law by making "false and unsubstantiated claims" about their products's health benefits, according to the LA Times.

Pom Wonderful has advertised its juice as "helping to treat conditions including heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction.  The company, according to its website has spent more than $34 million to back pomegranate-based scientific research."

The FTC questions the scientific methods used in the studies and alleged in the complaint that "they did not find evidence showing the products to be effective against certain diseases."

In February, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "sent Pom a warning letter: By making specific claims that the juice treated maladies connected to heart, prostate and erectile function, the company was in effect selling a drug, which therefore was subject to clinical trials and other testing."

Additionally, "two weeks ago, Pom Wonderful filed a lawsuit against the FTC, accusing the commission of overstepping its authority.  The complaint alleged that the FTC was imposing a new, unfair standard on food and supplement producers by requiring them to get FDA approval for claims involving effectiveness in treating disease."

To read the LA Times story, click here.

Posted: 09/28/2010