Dear Steve,
I bet you never thought you would hear from me again. I just wanted to wish you luck on your job search. I heard that your bosses have just settled with the Federal Trade Commission to the tune of 10 million dollars for making false claims about “The Enforma System.” I haven’t seen the actual court settlement papers yet, but as far as I can tell, you are safe. I can’t tell you how relieved I am for you. I really can’t. Honest…
Anyway, here is part of the FTC news release:For Release: April 26, 2000
Marketers of “The Enforma System” Settle FTC Charges of Deceptive Advertising For Their Weight Loss Products
Settlement requires payment of $10 million
“With Enforma, you can eat what you want and never,
ever, ever have to diet again.”
These and other weight loss claims for “The Enforma System” are touted in television and Internet ads. But, according to a Federal Trade Commission complaint filed in federal court, the company’s claims are false and unsubstantiated. Under a settlement filed with the court, the company will no longer make deceptive weight loss claims and will pay the FTC $10 million to be returned to purchasers of the product or, if that is not practical, paid to the U.S. Treasury.
The marketers of “Fat Trapper” and “Exercise In A Bottle” have settled FTC charges that they made false and unsubstantiated weight loss claims in their advertising of “The Enforma System.” The FTC complaint names Enforma Natural Products, Inc., its president and Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Grey, and Fred Zinos, a former Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Enforma Natural Products advertises and sells “The Enforma System” to consumers nationwide.
The product has been promoted chiefly via televised 30 minute infomercials, featuring former baseball player Steve Garvey, as well as through the company’s Web site. “The Enforma System” consists of two dietary supplements with ingredients that are becoming increasingly popular weight loss remedies: a chitosan-based product called “Fat Trapper” that purports to prevent the absorption of dietary fat; and a pyruvate product named “Exercise In A Bottle” that supposedly increases the body’s capacity to burn fat.
“Lose weight without dieting? Not a chance!” said Jodie Bernstein, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Miracle weight loss claims prey on people who are overweight or obese. When marketers promise effortless weight loss, it’s bad business. The fact is there’s only one sure way to lose weight and keep it off: eat less and exercise more.” The rest of this news release can be found on the FTC’s web site.
Well, Steve, what a year it’s been though, eh? That’s the “miracle diet” business, I suppose — one minute you have so many orders you can hardly fill them, and then the next minute you are standing before the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection hoping your lawyers can double-talk their way past some dim-witted bureaucrat.
Hey, Steve, I hear there are openings in the structured water business. Negative ions, Steve. You don’t want to miss that boat.
Thanks again for letting me intrude.
David Glück
Skeptic Friends Network
Read or Add Comments about this Article
|
All Open Letters to Steve Garvey:An Open Letter to Steve Garvey
Another Open Letter to Steve Garvey
Bottom of the 9th, down by 10 million
The Latest Letter to Steve Garvey
Garvey Walks
Umps Concur: Yes, Garvey Walks
|
