Steuart’s Pain Formula

UPDATE 8/28/17: After conducting a review of health claims referred to the agency by NAD, the FTC has opted not to pursue enforcement action against Steuart Laboratories at this time. Since publishing this alert, Steuart’s has made a few changes to its website including removing its “Hassle Free” guarantee and the statement that it “works faster than any steroid and capsaicin driven formula out on the market.”  Below is the original ad alert.

Steuart’s Pain Formula claims that it “banishes aches and pains naturally” and works faster than “any steroid and capsaicin driven formula out on the market.” But when a competitor challenged the claim and an industry self-regulatory board asked for proof, the company was silent.

Among the claims, which EuroPharma, Inc. requested The National Advertising Division (NAD) is the advertising industry’s self-regulatory body administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus. investigate were:

• …a unique formulation for relieving joint and muscle pain.
• An all natural unique formulation that targets joint and muscle pain associated with arthritis and injuries.
• It contains Comfrey and Arnica in a liposome base that penetrates the skin rapidly.
• Steuart’s Pain Formula provides significant and rapid relief of joint and muscle pain associated with arthritis and injuries.
• It has little or no odor and it penetrates that skin instantly.
• Steuart’s Pain Formula will normally reduce pain within 5 to 15 minutes after application and can be effective for up to 8 hours.
• Great for Arthritis, Back Aches, Joint and Muscle Pain.
• “It knocks the Pain Right Out.”

NAD also requested substantiation for numerous testimonials that were on the site including:

• “I put the Pain Formula on my knees about 10:00 a.m. this morning, and it’s now 9:00 
m., and I’m still pain free…I could feel it working as soon as I put it on.”
• “[O]ne woman I gave a sample to….she’s off [arthritis] medication and completely satisfied with this alternative.”
• “was able to get relief from the post-[open heart] surgical pain in his chest.”

We found a few more:

When Steuart’s Laboratory Inc. failed to respond to NAD’s inquiry NAD referred the issue to the FTC.

In addition to the challenged claims, we at TINA.org found some other red flags. The company prominently features a “No Hassle Guarantee,” on their website.  However, upon closer review, we found that refunds could take between 3-6 weeks for processing.  Some people would certainly consider that sort of time frame a hassle.

For more on our coverage of pain relief products or supplements, click here.