POM juice lawsuit, which is aimed at beverage manufacturer POM Wonderful LLC, states that the company misled consumers by making unsubstantiated claims regarding their product’s usefulness in the treatment of cancer, heart disease, and erectile dysfunction. Although POM Wonderful feels that they are being held to the same standards as pharmaceutical companies, a judge feels that aren’t being entirely truthful in their marketing.
D. Michael Chappell, chief administrative law judge for the US Federal Trade Commission, has ruled that the company misrepresented the benefits of their product in recent ad campaigns. By doing so, POM Wonderful is in violation of federal law. Their punishment: Stop making outrageous health claims they can’t back up with scientific research.
FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection director David C. Vladeck was happy with the ruling, stating, “I am pleased that Judge Chappell found that all respondents including [POM Wonderful co-founders] Mr. and Mrs. Resnick violated the Federal Trade Commission Act by deceptively advertising that the POM products treat, prevent, or reduce the risk of heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction and has entered an order against them.”
However, the company will not have to have future marketing campaigns pre-approved by the Federal Trade Commission, which is why POM Wonderful is pleased with the verdict.
Craig Cooper, chief legal officer for the company, expressed their happiness with the outcome. “[The lawsuit] tried to create a new, stricter industry standard, similar to that required for pharmaceuticals, for marketing the health benefits inherent in safe food and natural food-based products. While we are still analyzing the ruling, it is clear that we will be able to continue to promote the health benefits of our safe, food products without having our advertisements, marketing or public relations efforts preapproved.”
Are you unfamiliar with the beverage, yet you can’t help but wonder where you’ve heard the company’s name before? They were one of the official sponsors of documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s endeavor “POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold”, a motion picture about product placement.