POM Wonderful being called out by the FTC for false health claims

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has stated that the company POM Wonderful and parent Roll International Corp., broke federal law by making false and deceptive claims.

The FTC said that the claims, found in advertisements in print publications and on the internet were, “false and unsubstantiated” and supported flawed medical studies.

The agency refereed to advertisements claiming scientific research shows the juice or related pomegranate supplements prevent or treat heart disease, cardiovascular, erectile and prostate health.

In February, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent POM Wonderful a warning letter regarding the health claims the company makes online about its products.

POM joined the hot market for flavored fruit teas, martinis and salad dressings when it introduced its juice product packaged in a uniquely shaped bottle in 2002.

On the POM Wonderful website, the company is continuing to stand behind their studies, and says “we do not make claims that our products act as drugs. What we do, rather, is communicate, through advertising, the promising science relating to pomegranates.”

POM Wonderful’s website also says that it has spent more than $34 million to research its products effects on health hindrances, from heart disease to erectile dysfunction.

The FTC said the POM Wonderful case is part of an “ongoing efforts to uncover over-hyped health claims in food advertising.”