Airborne Settles False Advertising Lawsuit – Details and Claims Information
Published On: March 4, 2008
Wow, it’s amazing! Airborne, the “cold remedy” du jour, has settled a false advertising lawsuit for $23.2 Million. What galls me is that I take Airborne. Maybe it’s the placebo effect, but I truly believe that it works. In the last 4 months, I started to come down with a cold twice and the symptoms literally disappeared after taking 2 doses of Airborne. This is pretty fascinating stuff, though, and I encourage you to click on the links below for some great reading and viewing.
United Press International published the following:
CARMEL, Calif., March 4 (UPI) — A California herbal supplement firm will pay $23.2 million in a class action settlement for false advertising, one of the plaintiff groups said Tuesday.
Airborne, which advertised its supplement helped fight off colds, will refund money to consumers who bought the product, said the non-profit advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest.
“There’s no credible evidence that what’s in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment,” CSPI senior nutritionist David Schardt told CNN. “Airborne is basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that’s been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed.”
Airborne, based in Carmel, Calif., also will pay for nationwide advertising that outlines how to file for a refund.
Airborne was created by second-grade teacher who “studied the benefits herbal therapies used in Eastern medicine,” the company’s Web site said.
A recorded message at the toll-free number of the class-action settlement administrator said Airborne Health Inc. admitted no wrongdoing, CNN reported.
A hearing to consider the settlement’s final approval is scheduled for June 16.
Airborne changed its advertising campaign when a plaintiff filed suit against the company in March 2006. Advertisements ceased mentioning cold-curing claims, promoting claims that Airborne helped boost the body’s immune systems.
Check out the following links, including the ABC News Video Report:
- ABC News Video Report: Airborne Settles Lawsuit
- On Line Claim Form
- New York Times
- GoGirlfriend.com
- My Fox Kansas City
- An Airborne User’s Opinion
Despite my protestations that Airborne actually works, for information on how to get your money from this settlement, write to the Airborne Class Action Settlement Administrator, PO Box 1897, Faribault, MN 55021-7152, call 1-888-952-9080 or visit Airborne’s Site.
