Airborne, the herbal supplement company that once called itself a “miracle cold buster,” was asked pay $23.3 million to settle a class action lawsuit over false advertising, according to published reports.
Legal battles beginning in 2006 was called in to question the product’s claims to be able to stop the common cold. A February 2006 investigation by ABC’s “Good Morning America” found that Airborne’s clinical trial was conducted by just two people in the absence of a clinic or scientists.
Airborne quickly changed their advertising campaign when a plaintiff filed suit against the company in March 2006. The company now claims that its product “boosts the immune system with seven herbal extracts and a proprietary blend of vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants.”
The Centre for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit advocacy group and co-counsel for the class action, said the company would refund money to consumers who bought Airborne’s product. they paid for advertisements in major publications instructing consumers on how to get their money refunded.
Although there’s no credible evidence that any constituents of Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment, (claimed by CSPI Senior nutritionist David Schardt.) “Airborne was basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that was cleverly, but deceptively, marketed.”
A recorded message at the toll-free number of the class-action settlement administrator currently reports that Airborne Health Inc. has admitted no wrongdoing. Defendants denied any wrongdoing or illegal conduct, the message says, “but have agreed to settle the litigation.
According to the settlement agreement, consumers with valid claims and receipts will be reimbursed for the amount they spent on Airborne from May 2001 through November 2007. Those without receipts are eligible to receive money back for as many as six packages each, based on average retail prices of the products—from $2.75 per box of gummi lozenges to $10.50 per box for Airborne Seasonal.