Court Orders Balance of Nature to Halt Supplement Sales
“The public cannot have confidence that their products are what they purport to be,” says the FDA.
Balance of Nature to Pay $1.1M to Settle Regulatory Action over False Health Claims
Lawsuit alleged company falsely advertised that its "Fruits" and "Veggies" supplements could prevent, treat or cure serious diseases.
Balance of Nature has agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle a lawsuit filed by consumer protection officials in California alleging the company falsely advertised that its supplements could prevent, treat or cure diseases including diabetes, fibromyalgia, arthritis, heart disease and even cancer.
“The company went so far as to recommend that customers take 12 capsules each of its Fruits and Veggies supplements if they had been ‘diagnosed with life threatening illness,’” the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday in a press release announcing the settlement. “Balance of Nature also used customer testimonials to make false claims.”
TINA.org first alerted consumers to Balance of Nature’s false health claims in 2016. In 2020, after the FTC decided not to pursue an enforcement action against Balance of Nature and the FDA sent the company a warning letter regarding its use of unapproved drug treatment claims, TINA.org filed complaints with both agencies urging them to take immediate steps to stop the company’s false claims that its supplements can prevent and help treat COVID-19.
TINA.org continues to receive complaints from readers about Balance of Nature’s TV ads that they say deceptively tout the company’s supplements as a substitute for real fruits and vegetables. Consumers report that the ads are “constantly running” and “like wallpaper” on the major cable news channels.
Only California residents are eligible for refunds under the settlement, which provides $250,000 in customer restitution. The remaining $850,000 will go to pay civil penalties and investigative costs, according to the press release.
The case was brought by prosecutors in the California Food, Drug and Medical Device Task Force, which, in addition to Santa Clara, includes the district attorney’s offices of Alameda, Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Shasta and Orange counties.
In 2016, the task force filed a false health claims lawsuit against MyPillow based on evidence TINA.org collected and provided to the regulators, resulting in a $1.1 million settlement. And in 2020, the task force reached a $145,000 settlement with Goop after TINA.org filed a complaint with the regulators over the company’s unsubstantiated health claims.
Find more of our coverage on Balance of Nature here.
You Might Be Interested In
Best Reader Tips of 2021
This year reader tips led to dozens of ad alerts, as well as a complaint to regulators.
What You Should Know about USANA
Supplement MLM takes down dozens of deceptive claims following TINA.org investigation.