MonaVie settles with Oprah
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
The acai berry product firm resolves allegations it used Oprah Winfrey's and Dr. Mehmet Oz's names and images to promote acai products. An August 2009 suit named South Jordan, Utah-based MonaVie because of "unapproved distributor Web sites and social networking sites - all of which are now non-operational or shut down" (1"The Tan Sheet" Aug. 24, 2009, In Brief). The settlement requires the firm to not use Winfrey's or Oz's names, images or trademarks without permission. MonaVie distributors in violation will face "steep penalties," the company said. MonaVie avoids popular weight-loss claims for acai and focuses on science (2"The Tan Sheet" April 26, 2010)
You may also be interested in...
Sambazon And MonaVie Keep Their Distance From Acai Weight-Loss Claims
Two marketers of acai berry juices and supplements say sound science, responsible ingredient sourcing and high-quality products differentiate their brands from the glut of acai products with questionable claims, particularly for weight loss
Illinois, Oprah pursue acai scammers
The Illinois attorney general's office files consumer fraud lawsuits against three acai berry product suppliers and an affiliate marketer for "using misleading sales tactics to scam consumers." Additionally, Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Inc. and Dr. Mehmet Oz filed suit against 40 Internet supplement marketers for trademark infringement. Winfrey and Oz tout the health benefits of acai and red wine-based resveratrol but do not endorse specific products, as suggested by marketers. The Illinois AG's complaints, filed Aug. 19 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, name Netalab, Crush LLC, Amirouche & Norton LLC and others who use a "free trial" hook to lure consumers into continuity programs that are difficult to cancel. The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on Web sites using "negative-option" marketing and making unrealistic weight-loss claims for acai supplements (1"The Tan Sheet" March 30, 2009)
US Q1 Consumer Health Earnings Preview: Label This One Historic And Challenging But Promising
US OTC drug and supplement firms’ reports of results for the first three months of 2024 began on April 19 with P&G. JP Morgan analysts say while “some retailers in the US in particular” are reducing consumer health inventories, for the overall sector they expect “a healthier balance of positive volume and lower pricing contribution.”