Truth in Advertising (organization)

Last updated
Truth in Advertising
Formation2012;12 years ago (2012)
Legal status 501(c)(3) nonprofit
PurposeConsumer advocacy
Location
Website www.truthinadvertising.org

TINA.org (TruthinAdvertising.org) is an independent, non-profit, advertising watchdog organization founded in the United States of America. [1] [2] TINA.org was founded in 2012 and received its initial funding from Karen Pritzker and Michael Vlock through their Seedlings Foundation, which supports programs that nourish the physical and mental health of children and families, and fosters an educated and engaged citizenship. [3] [4] TINA.org is headed by Bonnie Patten, who has served as its Executive Director since its founding. [3] [ dead link ]

Contents

On March 28, 2013, TINA.org took action against NourishLife, LLC after finding that the company was using a number of deceptive marketing tactics to sell a potentially harmful supplement for children with speech delays. [5] The organization sent legal complaint letters to the company’s CEO as well as to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Food and Drug Administration, and the Illinois Attorney General, urging each of them to take action. [6] On August 14, 2013, the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau recommended that the company discontinue and amend certain claims used to market the product. The company has since corrected its website and has begun amending its product packaging. [7] [2] [8]

TINA.org’s investigation and criticism of Vemma, which makes the energy drink Verve and enlists students ostensibly to sell its products, has been cited and quoted in New York Post articles [9] [10] that raised questions about whether Vemma is running a legitimate multi-level marketing business or an illegal pyramid scheme. A subsequent class-action lawsuit against Vemma cited TINA.org's reporting of numerous complaints about Vemma that have been submitted to the FTC. [11]

In 2017, Truth in Advertising investigated Goop and accused the company of making deceptive health claims about the products they sell. [12] [13]

On May 5, 2019, Truth in Advertising filed a complaint [14] with the FTC regarding Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s continued use of false Made in the USA marketing. In March 2020, the FTC announced a settlement with Williams-Sonoma. The company has agreed to stop making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated ‘Made in the USA’ claims and is required to pay $1 million to the FTC. [15]

On November 12, 2019, Truth in Advertising filed complaints [16] against Neurocore, a „brain training” company backed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. TINA's two complaints were with the Food and Drug Administration for unapproved medical devices [17] and the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive marketing. [18]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyramid scheme</span> Type of unsustainable business model

A pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits members via a promise of payments or services for enrolling others into the scheme, rather than supplying investments or sale of products. As recruiting multiplies, recruiting becomes quickly impossible, and most members are unable to profit; as such, pyramid schemes are unsustainable and often illegal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Trade Commission</span> United States government agency

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. The FTC shares jurisdiction over federal civil antitrust law enforcement with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division. The agency is headquartered in the Federal Trade Commission Building in Washington, DC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenwashing</span> Use of the aesthetic of conservationism to promote organisations

Greenwashing, also called green sheen, is a form of advertising or marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization's products, aims, and policies are environmentally friendly. Companies that intentionally take up greenwashing communication strategies often do so to distance themselves from their environmental lapses or those of their suppliers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">False advertising</span> Misleading content in advertisements

False advertising is the act of publishing, transmitting, or otherwise publicly circulating an advertisement containing a false claim, or statement, made intentionally to promote the sale of property, goods, or services. A false advertisement can be classified as deceptive if the advertiser deliberately misleads the consumer, rather than making an unintentional mistake. A number of governments use regulations to limit false advertising.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an American publicly traded consumer retail company that sells kitchenware and home furnishings. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States. The company has 625 brick and mortar stores and distributes to more than 60 countries, with brands including Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, West Elm, Mark and Graham, and Rejuvenation. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. also operates through eight corresponding websites and a gift registry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Trudeau</span> American fraudster and pseudoscientist

Kevin Trudeau is an American author, salesman, and television personality known for promotion of his books and resulting legal cases involving the US Federal Trade Commission. His ubiquitous late-night infomercials, which promoted unsubstantiated health, diet, and financial advice, earned him a fortune but resulted in civil and criminal penalties for fraud, larceny, and contempt of court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Made in USA</span> Phrase indicating that something was produced in the United States

A Made in USA mark is a country of origin label affixed to homegrown, American-made products that indicates the product is "all or virtually all" domestically produced, manufactured and assembled in the United States of America. The label is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

POM Wonderful, LLC is a private company which sells an eponymous brand of beverages and fruit extracts. It was founded in 2002 by the billionaire industrial agriculture couple Stewart and Lynda Rae Resnick. Through The Wonderful Company, their holding company, they are also affiliated with Teleflora, FIJI Water, pesticide manufacturer Suterra, and Paramount Agribusiness. In 2010, the company was warned by the FDA for making false health claims and for marketing statements that promoted their products as unauthorized drugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dura Lube</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vinpocetine</span> Chemical compound

Vinpocetine is a synthetic derivative of the vinca alkaloid vincamine, differing by the removal of a hydroxyl group. Vincamine is extracted from either the seeds of Voacanga africana or the leaves of Vinca minor.

BBB National Programs, an independent non-profit organization that oversees more than a dozen national industry self-regulation programs that provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services to companies, including outside and in-house counsel, consumers, and others in arenas such as privacy, advertising, data collection, child-directed marketing, and more. The Center for Industry Self-Regulation (CISR) is BBB National Programs' 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation. CISR supports responsible business leaders in developing fair, future-proof best practices, and the education of the public on the conditions necessary for industry self-regulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnesium salicylate</span> Common analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Magnesium salicylate is a common analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain such as in tendons and muscles. It is also used to treat joint pain like arthritis, general back pain, and headaches.

Marketing ethics is an area of applied ethics which deals with the moral principles behind the operation and regulation of marketing. Some areas of marketing ethics overlap with media and public relations ethics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Direct Selling Association</span> U.S.-based national trade association

The Direct Selling Association (DSA) is a trade association in the United States that represents direct selling companies, primarily those that use multi-level marketing compensation plans. On behalf of its members' companies, the DSA engages in public relations and lobbying efforts against regulation of the multi-level marketing industry, and it funds political candidates through a political action committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cancer Treatment Centers of America</span> Hospital in the United States

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, was a national, for-profit network of five comprehensive cancer care and research centers and three outpatient care centers that served cancer patients throughout the United States. It was acquired by City of Hope in 2022 and went defunct in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sensa (diet)</span> Diet aid created by neurologist Alan Hirsch

Sensa is an American brand of diet aid created by Alan Hirsch, an American neurologist and psychiatrist. The product lacks scientific evidence of effect and has been the subject of controversy and lawsuits. Following a $26 million fine by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in 2014, the company ceased operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MyLife</span> Online information broker

MyLife is an American information brokerage scam. The firm was founded by Jeffrey Tinsley in 2002 as Reunion.com and changed names following the 2008 merger with Wink.com.

This report is the result of a student task force exploration of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), completed over the course of a summer job led by Ralph Nader. The seven law student volunteers began their evaluation of the FTC in June 1968, and published a revised and expanded version of the report as a book in January 1969.

Vemma Nutrition Company was a privately held multi-level marketing company that sold dietary supplements. The company was shut down in 2015 by the FTC for engaging in deceptive practices and pyramid scheming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goop (company)</span> Lifestyle brand founded by Gwyneth Paltrow

Goop is a wellness and lifestyle brand and company founded by the American actress Gwyneth Paltrow. It was launched in September 2008 as a weekly e-mail newsletter providing new age advice, such as "police your thoughts" and "eliminate white foods", and the slogan "Nourish the Inner Aspect". Goop expanded into e-commerce, collaborating with fashion brands, launching pop-up shops, holding a "wellness summit", launching a print magazine, a podcast, and a docuseries for Netflix.

References

  1. ↑ "TINA.org in the news - Truth in Advertising". Truth in Advertising.org. May 23, 2020. Archived from the original on April 26, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Who's protecting the consumer?". Fox Business. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  3. 1 2 "A New Connecticut-Based Website Works to Uncover False Advertising" Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine , Gregory B. Hlady, CT.com, April 3, 2013
  4. ↑ "Seedlings Foundation, Branford, CT". seedlingsct.org. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  5. ↑ "Company That Touted Products' Ability to Treat Children's Speech Disorders Settles FTC Charges It Deceived Consumers". Federal Trade Commission. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Complaint Letter to the FDA". TruthInAdvertising.org. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "NourishLife revokes Speak claims to follow National Advertising Division recommendations", Maggie Hennessy, NutraIngredients USA.com, Oct. 15, 2013
  8. ↑ "Snake oil for the 21st century; Health claims that are too good to be true” ConsumerReports.org, September 2013
  9. ↑ "Verve energy drink turning college students into sales force", Michelle Celarier, New York Post, Sept. 29, 2013
  10. ↑ "Verve sweetens deal for college salesmen", Michelle Celarier, New York Post, Oct. 7, 2013
  11. ↑ "Vemma Verge Energy Drink Billing Class Action Lawsuit", Anne Bucher, Top Class Actions, Nov. 18, 2013
  12. ↑ "Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP cited for "illegal health claims" by watchdog group: Truth in Advertising called GOOP's health claims "unsubstantiated" and "misleading"". Salon.com . August 24, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Watchdog group accuses Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop of 'deceptive' marketing claims". ABC News. August 24, 2017.
  14. ↑ Laura Smith, Esq.; Bonnie Patten, Esq. (May 21, 2019). "Williams-Sonoma, Inc.'s Continuing Use of False Made in the USA Marketing" (PDF). tina.org. Truth in Advertising. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  15. ↑ Kreidler, Jim (April 1, 2020). "Williams-Sonoma: Made in the USA?". Federal Trade Commission. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  16. ↑ "TINA.ORG FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST 'BRAIN TRAINING' COMPANY NEUROCORE". tina.org. Truth in Advertising. November 12, 2019. Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  17. ↑ Laura Smith, Esq.; Bonnie Patten, Esq. (November 12, 2019). "Neurocore, LLC's Unapproved Medical Device" (PDF). tina.org. Truth in Advertising. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020. We write to file a complaint with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration against Michigan-based "brain training" company Neurocore, LLC1 for its marketing, use, and sale of unapproved medical devices.
  18. ↑ Laura Smith, Esq.; Bonnie Patten, Esq. (November 12, 2019). "Neurocore, LLC's Use of Unsubstantiated Medical Treatment Claims" (PDF). tina.org. Truth in Advertising. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020. Neurocore's deceptive marketing is used to attract vulnerable consumers, many of whom struggle with difficult psychiatric disorders, are caring for children who struggle with such disorders, or are seniors dealing with age-related memory loss, to its Brain Performance Centers. The consumer harm associated with deceiving these susceptible populations is of great concern and must be stopped.


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