Truth in Advertising (organization) explained

Status:501(c)(3) nonprofit
Purpose:Consumer advocacy
Truth in Advertising
Location:Madison, Connecticut

TINA.org (TruthinAdvertising.org) is an independent, non-profit, advertising watchdog organization founded in the United States of America.[1] TINA.org was founded in 2012 and received its initial funding from Karen Pritzker and Michael Vlock through their Seedlings Foundation, which supports programs that nourish the physical and mental health of children and families, and fosters an educated and engaged citizenship.[2] [3] TINA.org is headed by Bonnie Patten, who has served as its Executive Director since its founding.

Legal efforts and investigative journalism

On March 28, 2013, TINA.org took action against NourishLife, LLC after finding that the company was using a number of deceptive marketing tactics to sell a potentially harmful supplement for children with speech delays.[4] The organization sent legal complaint letters to the company’s CEO as well as to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Food and Drug Administration, and the Illinois Attorney General, urging each of them to take action.[5] On August 14, 2013, the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau recommended that the company discontinue and amend certain claims used to market the product. The company has since corrected its website and has begun amending its product packaging.[6] [7] [8]

TINA.org’s investigation and criticism of Vemma, which makes the energy drink Verve and enlists students ostensibly to sell its products, has been cited and quoted in New York Post articles[9] [10] that raised questions about whether Vemma is running a legitimate multi-level marketing business or an illegal pyramid scheme. A subsequent class-action lawsuit against Vemma cited TINA.org's reporting of numerous complaints about Vemma that have been submitted to the FTC.[11]

In 2017, Truth in Advertising investigated Goop and accused the company of making deceptive health claims about the products they sell.[12] [13]

On May 5, 2019, Truth in Advertising filed a complaint[14] with the FTC regarding Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s continued use of false Made in the USA marketing. In March 2020, the FTC announced a settlement with Williams-Sonoma. The company has agreed to stop making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated ‘Made in the USA’ claims and is required to pay $1 million to the FTC.[15]

On November 12, 2019, Truth in Advertising filed complaints[16] against Neurocore, a „brain training” company backed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. TINA's two complaints were with the Food and Drug Administration for unapproved medical devices[17] and the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive marketing.[18]

Notes and References

  1. News: May 23, 2020 . TINA.org in the news - Truth in Advertising . live . Truth in Advertising.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20200426003717/https://www.truthinadvertising.org/new-press/ . April 26, 2020 . May 23, 2020 .
  2. http://www.ct.com/news/advocates/latest-news/nm-ht14nctruthinadvertising-20130403,0,2505397,full.story "A New Connecticut-Based Website Works to Uncover False Advertising"
  3. Web site: Seedlings Foundation, Branford, CT . seedlingsct.org . 2020-05-24 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191025061128/https://seedlingsct.org/ . October 25, 2019.
  4. Web site: Company That Touted Products' Ability to Treat Children's Speech Disorders Settles FTC Charges It Deceived Consumers. Federal Trade Commission. 13 December 2017. 9 February 2015.
  5. Web site: Complaint Letter to the FDA. TruthInAdvertising.org. 13 December 2017. 27 March 2013.
  6. http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Regulation/NourishLife-revokes-Speak-claims-to-follow-National-Advertising-Division-recommendations "NourishLife revokes Speak claims to follow National Advertising Division recommendations"
  7. Web site: Who's protecting the consumer?. 2013-10-11. Fox Business. en-US. 2017-07-21.
  8. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/11/health-claims-too-good-to-be-true/index.htm "Snake oil for the 21st century; Health claims that are too good to be true”
  9. https://nypost.com/2013/09/29/energy-drinks-college-push-raising-pyramid-alarms/ "Verve energy drink turning college students into sales force"
  10. https://nypost.com/2013/10/07/verve-sweetens-deal-for-college-salesmen/ "Verve sweetens deal for college salesmen"
  11. http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/5469-vemma-verve-energy-drink-billing-class-action-lawsuit/ "Vemma Verge Energy Drink Billing Class Action Lawsuit"
  12. News: August 24, 2017 . Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP cited for "illegal health claims" by watchdog group: Truth in Advertising called GOOP's health claims "unsubstantiated" and "misleading" . Salon.com.
  13. News: Watchdog group accuses Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop of 'deceptive' marketing claims . August 24, 2017 . ABC News.
  14. Web site: Williams-Sonoma, Inc.'s Continuing Use of False Made in the USA Marketing . Laura Smith, Esq. . Bonnie Patten, Esq. . May 21, 2019 . tina.org . Truth in Advertising . May 23, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190824094957/https://www.truthinadvertising.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/5_21_19-ltr-to-FTC-re-Williams-Sonoma-Made-in-USA-marketing_Redacted.pdf . August 24, 2019 .
  15. News: Kreidler . Jim . April 1, 2020 . Williams-Sonoma: Made in the USA? . live . Federal Trade Commission . https://web.archive.org/web/20200404085519/https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/04/williams-sonoma-made-usa . April 4, 2020 . May 23, 2020.
  16. Web site: TINA.ORG FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST 'BRAIN TRAINING' COMPANY NEUROCORE . . November 12, 2019 . tina.org . Truth in Advertising . May 23, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200524033238/https://www.truthinadvertising.org/tina-org-files-complaint-against-brain-training-company-neurocore/ . May 24, 2020 .
  17. Web site: Neurocore, LLC's Unapproved Medical Device . Laura Smith, Esq. . Bonnie Patten, Esq. . November 12, 2019 . tina.org . Truth in Advertising . May 23, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200524032252/https://www.truthinadvertising.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/11_12_19-Neurocore-complaint-letter-to-FDA.pdf . May 24, 2020 . We write to file a complaint with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration against Michigan-based “brain training” company Neurocore, LLC1 for its marketing, use, and sale of unapproved medical devices..
  18. Web site: Neurocore, LLC's Use of Unsubstantiated Medical Treatment Claims . Laura Smith, Esq. . Bonnie Patten, Esq. . November 12, 2019 . tina.org . Truth in Advertising . May 23, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200524032244/https://www.truthinadvertising.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/11_12_19-Neurocore-complaint-letter-to-FTC.pdf . May 24, 2020 . Neurocore’s deceptive marketing is used to attract vulnerable consumers, many of whom struggle with difficult psychiatric disorders, are caring for children who struggle with such disorders, or are seniors dealing with age-related memory loss, to its Brain Performance Centers. The consumer harm associated with deceiving these susceptible populations is of great concern and must be stopped..

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Truth in Advertising (organization)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.