Herbal Formula Distributor to Issue Refunds

March 5, 2008

(Long Island, N.Y.) A class-action lawsuit filed against the company behind cold-fighting herbal formula “Airborne” reached a settlement after the company agreed to pay over $23.3 million which will be used to refund consumers who bought the herbal formula. The lawsuit alleged false advertising by its distributors.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest which is a non profit company who participated in filing the lawsuit against Airborne intimated its intention of returning the money to the general consumers by means of a refund. Customers who hold receipts will get a full refund while consumers with no receipts will get up to 6 bottles which amounts to a $63 refund.

“There’s no credible evidence that what’s in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment,” said CSPI Senior nutritionist David Schardt. “Airborne is basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that’s been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed.”

Distributors of Airborne campaigned the formula as a “miracle cold buster” noting that it gives the immune system a boosts with the seven herbal extracts and a proprietary blend of vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants the formula contains.

Airborne’s CEO, Elise Donahue has repeatedly denied the thought that Airborne is a cold therapy in saying, “I would never sit here and tell you that it’s a cure for the common cold,” she said. “We don’t know if Airborne is a cure for the common cold. What Airborne does is help your body build a healthy immune system. When you have a healthy immune system, then it allows your body, on its own, to fight off germs.”

Medical field experts agree that the company created false advertisements as further clinical study shows little merit to their therapeutic claims. Ronald Turner a professor of pediatrics and associate dean for clinical research at the University of Virginia School of Medicine said.” You can say your product prevents or cures the common cold if you have data to support that. What happened with Airborne is that they made the claim, but had no data.

Posted by News LI Editor · Edited by Brianna - Filed Under Health