no!no! – No!

Posted 25 February 2014

NoNoOn the no!no! website, this product is advertised as effective for removing unwanted hair. The claim is: “With no!no! there’s no pulling, tearing or scraping, just a slow, smooth glide that gently and easily removes hair“.Well how effective is this product?Consumerreports.org tested this product and found it worthless! 

Consumerreports.org states:

“Six female staffers who normally shave their legs at least three times a week let hair grow for a week. We took pictures (no, you won’t find them on Instagram), then asked panelists to shave one leg as usual and use No No and its buffer on the other leg at least three times a week for six weeks. We compared before and after photos.

What we found: Panelists used words such as “prickly” and  “hairy” to describe how their legs felt after No No. All six said the treated leg … Read the rest

February 24th, 2014 | Tags: , , | Category: | 3 comments

Complementary medicines regulations – an interpretation

Posted 24 February 2014

René Doms is a registered pharmacist and also holds a law degree. He has been closely observing regulations pertaining to complementary medicine.

In this article, first posted to the email discussion group, DrugInfo, he shares his interpretation of the new regulations governing CAMS published in November 2013.

… Read the rest
February 24th, 2014 | Tags: , , , | Category: MCC (Medicines Control Council) | 106 comments

TopSlim – No proof

Posted 20 February 2014

A complaint was laid against the weight-loss claims of TopSlim. TopSlim also claimed to be supported, endorsed, or was based on the research of three professors. The advert claimed, among other:

  • Fast Weight Loss!
  • Scientifically proven
  • Based on the research of the most respected scientist in the world!
  • Fully tested in multiple double blind clinical studies over decades.

The complainant added that he has contacted the three experts identified in the advertising. Professor Stohs has come back to deny any knowledge of this product or the implication that he in some way endorses it. 

The owner of TopSlim appears to be Adam Turner, 76 Marley Rd., Rosebank, 7720.

TopSlim did not respond to the ASA and the ASA ruled against the advertising. The original complaint is posted at the end of the ASA ruling.

… Read the rest
February 20th, 2014 | Tags: , | Category: ASA (SA) Rulings | 4 comments

CAM Workshop

Posted 18 February 2014

Regulations regulating Complementary Medicines in South Africa were published in November 2013. The regulations came into operation on 16 February 2014. 

The MCC presented a workshop with members from the industry and other interested parties and the presentations have been made available on the MCC’s website.

… Read the rest
February 18th, 2014 | Tags: | Category: MCC (Medicines Control Council) | Leave a comment

Arcadia Home Shopping Reduline36 – breach complaint

Posted 05 February 2014

A consumer laid a breach compliant with the ASA against the Arcadia’s print advertisement entitled “Believe it! Flab disappears without expensive surgery”. The advertisement appeared in the Sunday Times on 1 December 2013. In essence, the complainant submitted that the advertisement is virtually the same as the one he originally complained about. All the original efficacy claims have remained and the only modification is that it explicitly identifies the product as Chitosan.

… Read the rest
February 4th, 2014 | Tags: , | Category: ASA (SA) Rulings | Leave a comment

More Ploys That Can Fool You

Posted 2 February 2014

This article written by Drs Stephen Barrett and Victor Herbert and published on Quackwatch in 2007 has great relevance for South African consumers and therefore we post it below.

“Alternative” promoters are reaching people emotionally. What sells is not the quality of their products, but the ability to influence their audience. Their basic strategies are to promise the moon and knock the “competition.” To one and all, they promise better health and a longer life. They offer solutions for virtually every health problem, including some they have invented. To those in pain, they promise relief. To the incurable, they offer hope. To the nutrition-conscious, they say, “Make sure you have enough.” To a public worried about pollution, they say, “Buy natural.” For ailments amenable to scientific health care, they offer “safer nontoxic alternatives.” And they have an arsenal of ploys for defending themselves against criticism. To … Read the rest

February 1st, 2014 | Tags: , | Category: | Leave a comment