A South African consumers' guide to scams, pseudoscience and voodoo science, OR, a critical thinker's guide to the ins and outs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Homemark continues to scam consumers selling unproven products, and products known to be scams. Like their Remedy Health Detox Foot Pads.
A complaint was laid with the Advertising Regulatory Board, and here is an article, behind a paywall, on this.
TV stations ordered to discontinue ‘misleading’ adverts for foot pads claimed to detoxify the body while user is asleep
03 April 2023 – 20:27 BY GILL GIFFORD
A Homemark television advert promoting Remedy Health Detox Foot Pads has been found to be in breach of the Advertising Code by the Advertising Regulatory Board, which has advised broadcasters to stop flighting it. .. TimesLive
Since time immemorial, women have been sold products to narrow their midsections and flatten their bellies. In the United States, whalebone stays of the 18th and 19th centuries gave way to tight-cinch girdles under 1950s flounce.
Now, the lucrative shapewear industry and celebrity influencers have pitched certain stomach-squishing products as more than just strategies for smoothing special outfits.
The Directorate of the Advertising Regulatory Board has been called upon to consider a consumer complaint against a Homemark television commercial promoting the Remedy Health Detox Foot Pads.
In fact, Homemark has been marketing this scam product for years, and keep on re-advertising the same product using the same TV advert. Shame on Homemark, shame on DSTV Multichoice for accepting the advert in spite of previous ASA and ARB rulings.
The Directorate of the Advertising Regulatory Board has been called upon to consider a consumer complaint against a Homemark television commercial promoting the Remedy Health Detox Foot Pads. The commercial was flighted on the Kynet Channel 144 on Dstv on the 2nd of February 2023.… Read the rest
Homemark makes the following claims for this product:
“blasts away unwanted fat, smooth and softens the appearance of orange peel skin, and improves circulation”;
The name “Fat Blaster”;
“improved circulation and daily massage is proven to assist with the reduction of cellulite and orange peel skin”.
A complainant argued that these claims are false and highly unlikely. He is unable to find any evidence that this device, or a similar device, is able to satisfy the claims being made. Therefore, without evidence, the claims are unproven and will dupe the ordinary consumer into purchasing a likely useless product.
This product claims in a Carte Blanche advert that it would allow users to “Lose the weight you’ve always wanted to lose, in only seven short days, without ever stepping foot in a gym …” It adds that this “… Jump Start seven-day programme is super-fast weight loss to flush out stored toxins, and once you remove these toxins the fat is released from your body in a quick, yet safe manner”. It also features the following “Before” and “After” photos of people purported to have lost weight using this programme.
The Complainant submitted that there is insufficient evidence to support reliance on juice- based diets, that research from trusted sources have linked liquid diets to an increased risk of eating disorders and health complications, and that people should only undertake liquid based diets under close medical supervision.
The Complainant added that there was no evidence … Read the rest
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sending checks totaling more than $930,000 to more than 20,000 consumers who bought deceptively marketed Teami teas. The FTC sued Teami, LLC and its owners in March 2020, alleging that the company made bogus health claims and paid for endorsements from well-known social media influencers who did not adequately disclose that they were being paid to promote the products.
The company claimed without reliable scientific evidence that the Teami 30-Day Detox Pack would help consumers lose weight, and that its other teas would fight cancer, clear clogged arteries, decrease migraines, treat and prevent flus, and treat colds. Reference: FTC returns more than $930,000 to consumers who bought Teami’s deceptively advertised teas. FTC press release, Feb 22, 2022
A complaint was laid with the ARB (Advertising Regulatory Board) regarding Homemark’s claims for their ‘Weighted Blanket’, which claimed among other, “It is useful for anxiety and stress”, “Creates a focus on ADHD”, “Alleviates restless leg syndrome”, “Enhances sleep quality”, “It helps you stay asleep at night”. The complainant argued that these claims are not supported by evidence and therefore dupe consumers into spending around R800 for a product with no evidence of being able to help.
The Directorate of the Advertising Regulatory Board has been called on to consider a complaint by Dr Harris Steinman against Homemark’s online advertising promoting its “Anti Anxiety Weighted Blanket”. The … Read the rest
Johannesburg – Stress and anxiety wearing you down? Then a weighted or gravity blanket is all you need to count sheep in no time. Because let’s be honest: Who sleeps well during a pandemic?
If you believe the marketing hype around them, weighted blankets are the newest, bestest thing in home treatments for anxiety, PTSD, colic, and even autism. Said to improve the mood as well as calm a restless body and mind, the blankets – weighted with a filling of micro beads – have been selling like hotcakes for years, at a starting price of around R799 each.
Punted as being medically approved, the health care claims suggest deep pressure stimulation helps relax and soothe the body. But the jury’s still out on their efficacy.
Nothing though escapes the sharp eye of consumer activist, Dr Harris Steinman. He
Board says it will rule even on advertising claims by companies that are not members
The Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) has made it clear that it will rule against companies that make unproven medical claims, even if those companies are not members of the ARB.
ARB is a self-regulating authority, and its members join it voluntarily. There has been an ongoing debate dating back to the ARB’s predecessor, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), as to whether it can make rulings about the adverts of non-members.
The ARB replaced the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after the latter went into liquidation in 2018.
The ARB has in recent months ruled that members should remove advertisements by three companies claiming the medical efficacy of their products. All three advertisements were broadcast on M-Net during the evening. M-Net is a member of the … Read the rest
South Africa’s advertising regulator has banned ads for three products from Homemark, after the retailer did not substantiate claims about their benefits made in these ads.
The Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) considered complaints from a medical doctor, Dr Harris Steinman, about advertising claims Homemark made about its Remedy Health Detox Tea, Aragan Secret Nail Treatment and Remedy Health Detox Foot Patches.
In one of the ads, which features women in bikinis, Homemark claims that its detox tea left people “feeling more energised, more positive, and better than they have for years”.
The ARB called on Homemark to support claims that the
