AP: FTC Fines Weight Loss Pill Firms $25M

FTC Fines Weight Loss Pill Firms $25M

By DONNA DE LA CRUZ, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, January 4, 2007

(01-04) 09:22 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday fined the marketers of four weight loss
pills $25 million for making false advertising claims ranging from rapid weight
loss to reducing the risk of cancer.

FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras said the products would remain on store shelves,
but that the companies would have to stop making the false claims.

"What we challenge is the marketing of the claims," she said. "The marketers are
required to back up the claims with the science and if they can't do that they can't
make the claim. But we don't ban the products from the shelves."

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Fines were levied against marketers of Xenadrine EFX, One A Day Weight Smart,
CortiSlim and TrimSpa.

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