According to documents posted on their website, the Federal Trade Commission has filed individual complaints in the public interest against Dr. Joseph Mercola and two of his businesses for deceptive advertising practices regarding the sales and marketing of his line of indoor tanning systems, including UV tanning booths. Mercola's promotional claims for the tanning booths as safe, able to reverse wrinkles, and that using them would not raise the risk of developing skin cancer, were charged as deceptive by the FTC and ruled to be unsubstantiated and misleading. The outfit is now required to pay back those who purchased the booths under false pretenses, potentially refunding over $5 million to their mislead customers this summer. |
Popular as an online source of mainstream alternative health-related information and products, Mercola and his companies are now required by the FTC to be transparent in all their forthcoming health-related advertising. The Commission details orders for the Mercola conglomeration to accurately represent the results of related scientific studies and to unmistakably disclose paid endorsements both audibly and in print.
Furthermore, their 3-0 vote to approve the resulting final order of the original filings in February effectively bans Mercola from the promotion and sales of any more indoor tanning systems.
Mercola's tanning booths were sold online, marketed in newsletters and promoted on popular television shows like "Dr. Oz" until December 2015. The beds are branded under the names D-Lite, Sun Splash, Sun Splash Renew, Vitality, Vitality Refresh, and Vitality D-Lite.
If that seems strangely familiar, you might recall the controversial "Vitality" line of ingestible essential oils by multi-level marketing company Young Living Essential Oils, LLC that was launched the following month, premiering online in January 2016.
As for damage control, Mercola and Oz both plead plausible excuses rather well for an industry that doesn't permit them...
and no, that industry is not health care.
Furthermore, their 3-0 vote to approve the resulting final order of the original filings in February effectively bans Mercola from the promotion and sales of any more indoor tanning systems.
Mercola's tanning booths were sold online, marketed in newsletters and promoted on popular television shows like "Dr. Oz" until December 2015. The beds are branded under the names D-Lite, Sun Splash, Sun Splash Renew, Vitality, Vitality Refresh, and Vitality D-Lite.
If that seems strangely familiar, you might recall the controversial "Vitality" line of ingestible essential oils by multi-level marketing company Young Living Essential Oils, LLC that was launched the following month, premiering online in January 2016.
As for damage control, Mercola and Oz both plead plausible excuses rather well for an industry that doesn't permit them...
and no, that industry is not health care.
Welcome to the new age of mass media marketing. It's basically driving the information superhighway into gridlock. Jammed full of misleading profit-driven product claims, pious proclamations and professional presentations, these sales pitch pieces can now work in virtual tandem serving seller interests.
With careers, families, hobbies, and interests of their own to return to, frustrated and exhausted consumers may be more likely to give up on their search for credible answers to their product questions. Most are unaware that the repetition of useless information they have read and re-read may have been placed there with purpose, priming these sales leads to buy on an impulse the next time they see that product advertised.
As anyone in sales can tell you, the key to effective marketing and promotions is repetition, repetition, repetition.
But excuses and sales tricks aside, Mercola's tanning booths were unplugged by the FTC for product misrepresentation, unfounded facts, and undisclosed paid endorsements - all intentional efforts to fool you for your money.
Here's to your health!
Oh wait, it's over there...
Information in this report was obtained from the following sources:
"Marketers of Indoor Tanning Systems to Pay Refunds to Consumers"
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2016/04/marketers-indoor-tanning-systems-pay-refunds-consumers
accessed online 3 July 2016
"Stipulation for Entry of Permanent Injuction and Other Equitable Relief":
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/160414mercolastip.pdf
accessed online 5 July 2016
Visit these links for more details.
"Marketers of Indoor Tanning Systems to Pay Refunds to Consumers"
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2016/04/marketers-indoor-tanning-systems-pay-refunds-consumers
accessed online 3 July 2016
"Stipulation for Entry of Permanent Injuction and Other Equitable Relief":
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/160414mercolastip.pdf
accessed online 5 July 2016
Visit these links for more details.