TINA.org’s Action on Glucosamine Settlement Helps Spur Revision

Final Agreement Bans Deceptive Claims Made by Walmart, Walgreens & Supervalu

MADISON, CONN. March 25, 2015 — A federal judge has given final approval to a class-action settlement that permanently changes how glucosamine supplements sold by Walmart, Supervalu, and Walgreens stores across the nation can be labeled. The approval comes after the parties in the lawsuit renegotiated the terms following objections by ad watchdog organization, truthinadvertising.org (TINA.org) and others.

TINA.org filed a friend of the court brief arguing that the original settlement would not have adequately addressed the deceptive marketing issues because it only banned the marketers from using six specific words on the supplement labels for just two years. The new settlement approved by a New York federal judge forever prohibits the marketers from conveying the message that the supplements, which are manufactured by South Carolina-based Perrigo, can repair, strengthen, or rebuild cartilage.

Glucosamine, marketed as a relief for joint pain and a cartilage rebuilder, is one of the most popular non-vitamin dietary supplements sold in the U.S, with sales topping $700,000 in recent years. But scientific studies have shown that glucosamine is no better than a placebo in reducing the symptoms or progression of osteoarthritis, nor can it help rebuild cartilage.

“The revised settlement is a victory for the millions of consumers who have been misled by the deceptive marketing and labeling of glucosamine products and a warning to other supplement marketers making health claims without sufficient scientific evidence, “ said Bonnie Patten, Executive Director of TINA.org.

TINA.org’s objection was the first of three it has filed regarding proposed class-action settlements involving deceptive marketing of glucosamine products. In February, TINA.org filed a brief opposing a settlement involving Wellesse Joint Movement and filed another earlier this month in a case involving Move Free Advanced.

In its continuing effort to fight for consumers in the legal realm, TINA.org has also objected to unfair settlements in other deceptive advertising class-actions, including cases against Herbalife, a multi-level marketing company, and Vitaminwater, a Coca-Cola beverage subsidiary.

View the details of the revised settlement: https://truthinadvertising.org/articles/three-major-retailers-banned-from-making-deceptive-glucosamine-claims/

View all of TINA.org’s legal efforts: https://truthinadvertising.org/legal-action/brands-industries/