11 replies to this topic

[ajnast4r]

http://money.cnn.com...sion=2008030413


get your money back -> http://www.airborneh...settlement.com/

Airborne settles lawsuit for $23.3 million
The herbal supplement firm will settle class action lawsuit that alleges false advertising; money will be refunded to consumers, non-profit advocacy group says.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Airborne - the herbal supplement company that once claimed to help fight off colds - will pay $23.3 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought against the company for false advertising, according to one of the groups that joined the suit.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit advocacy group, said the company will refund money to consumers who bought Airborne's product. It will pay for advertisements in major publications instructing consumers on how to get their money refunded.

"There's no credible evidence that what's in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment," said CSPI Senior nutritionist David Schardt. "Airborne is basically on overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that's been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed."

According to the company's Web site, Airborne was created by second-grade teacher, Victoria Knight-McDowell, who "studied the benefits herbal therapies used in Eastern Medicine." The site says Airborne "boosts the immune system with seven herbal extracts and a proprietary blend of vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants."

A recorded message at the toll-free number of the class-action settlement administrator said that Airborne Health Inc. has admitted no wrongdoing. Airborne Inc., Airborne Health Inc. and Knight-McDowell Labs are among the defendants in the class action lawsuit, filed in the Central District of California in U.S. District Court.

"Defendants deny any wrongdoing or illegal conduct," the message says, "but have agreed to settle the litigation."

A hearing to consider final approval of the settlement is scheduled for June 16.

Airborne changed their advertising campaign when a plaintiff filed suit against the company in March 2006.

That came after an ABC News report disclosed that the company's clinical trials were not conducted by doctors or scientists, but instead carried out by two laypeople.

Advertisements stopped mentioning the study and cold-curing claims and instead touted claims that it helped boost the body's immune systems.

In late 2006 the CSPI joined the suit as co-counsel against Airborne and in 2007 the Federal Trade Commission and an assembly of state attorney generals began investigating the firm's cold-curing claims professed since its creation in 1999.

Customers interested in more information about how to recieve a refund should log onto www.airbornehealthsettlement.com. To top of page

[mitkat]

http://money.cnn.com...sion=2008030413


get your money back -> http://www.airborneh...settlement.com/

Airborne settles lawsuit for $23.3 million
The herbal supplement firm will settle class action lawsuit that alleges false advertising; money will be refunded to consumers, non-profit advocacy group says.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Airborne - the herbal supplement company that once claimed to help fight off colds - will pay $23.3 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought against the company for false advertising, according to one of the groups that joined the suit.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit advocacy group, said the company will refund money to consumers who bought Airborne's product. It will pay for advertisements in major publications instructing consumers on how to get their money refunded.

"There's no credible evidence that what's in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment," said CSPI Senior nutritionist David Schardt. "Airborne is basically on overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that's been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed."

According to the company's Web site, Airborne was created by second-grade teacher, Victoria Knight-McDowell, who "studied the benefits herbal therapies used in Eastern Medicine." The site says Airborne "boosts the immune system with seven herbal extracts and a proprietary blend of vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants."

A recorded message at the toll-free number of the class-action settlement administrator said that Airborne Health Inc. has admitted no wrongdoing. Airborne Inc., Airborne Health Inc. and Knight-McDowell Labs are among the defendants in the class action lawsuit, filed in the Central District of California in U.S. District Court.

"Defendants deny any wrongdoing or illegal conduct," the message says, "but have agreed to settle the litigation."

A hearing to consider final approval of the settlement is scheduled for June 16.

Airborne changed their advertising campaign when a plaintiff filed suit against the company in March 2006.

That came after an ABC News report disclosed that the company's clinical trials were not conducted by doctors or scientists, but instead carried out by two laypeople.

Advertisements stopped mentioning the study and cold-curing claims and instead touted claims that it helped boost the body's immune systems.

In late 2006 the CSPI joined the suit as co-counsel against Airborne and in 2007 the Federal Trade Commission and an assembly of state attorney generals began investigating the firm's cold-curing claims professed since its creation in 1999.

Customers interested in more information about how to recieve a refund should log onto www.airbornehealthsettlement.com. To top of page

I hadn't heard of Airborne, but after reading everything...wow, what a bungle. Have any imminsters taken this product before?

[cyborgdreamer]

I've always had my doubts that extra vitamins could prevent colds. It's best just to keep the germs from getting inside you in the first place. If you aren't willing to risk a cold, you should wash your hands often and avoid touching your nose and mouth when you've touched germy surfaces.

[Shepard]

I hadn't heard of Airborne, but after reading everything...wow, what a bungle. Have any imminsters taken this product before?

I took a road trip up to NYC with a friend last November. About halfway there, we stopped at a couple's house that we used to hang out with to spend the night. I had a cold or sinus trouble or something, the wife put two of those Airborne things into my glass and made me drink it. Her exact words:

"It was made by a teacher. It's really good."

[OneScrewLoose]

I've always had my doubts that extra vitamins could prevent colds. It's best just to keep the germs from getting inside you in the first place. If you aren't willing to risk a cold, you should wash your hands often and avoid touching your nose and mouth when you've touched germy surfaces.

I take the opposite approach. I figure exposing myself to a high number of pathogens helps build my immune system...I eat things that have fallen on the floor. When people around me get sick, I never do. But maybe I just have a good immune system to begin with?

[cyborgdreamer]

I've always had my doubts that extra vitamins could prevent colds. It's best just to keep the germs from getting inside you in the first place. If you aren't willing to risk a cold, you should wash your hands often and avoid touching your nose and mouth when you've touched germy surfaces.

I take the opposite approach. I figure exposing myself to a high number of pathogens helps build my immune system...I eat things that have fallen on the floor. When people around me get sick, I never do. But maybe I just have a good immune system to begin with?

Eating off the floor should be fine because the germs there are essentially harmless. Cold viruses spread when a sick person gets viruses on their hands and then touches something. If you handle the same object within a few hours and then touch your nose or mouth, some of the germs can get in. So what I meant by 'germy surfaces' were things that a lot of people touch (door handles, elevator buttons, railings etc).

[Brainbox]

"It was made by a teacher. It's really good."

So the question is: did it realy cure your cold.....?

[ortcloud]

I hadn't heard of Airborne, but after reading everything...wow, what a bungle. Have any imminsters taken this product before?

I took a road trip up to NYC with a friend last November. About halfway there, we stopped at a couple's house that we used to hang out with to spend the night. I had a cold or sinus trouble or something, the wife put two of those Airborne things into my glass and made me drink it. Her exact words:

"It was made by a teacher. It's really good."

Hehe, Thats hilarious. I see people take that stuff when they are on the plane. They think, hey the package says "airborne" so I will take it when I am airborne. The product name means the germs are airborne not you. Now granted you do have a good chance of getting sick when you are on a flight, but my point is that people will believe anything, in certain circumstances. It is interesting how most people determine efficacy. I try to look at science and most people look at what other people are doing, It seems to me that social proof isnt a very effective way to determine efficacy.
A related story is that I was with someone one time and they popped out some alka seltzer and I asked what is that for, they said I think I am getting sick so I will take this. Yikes, if airborne is ineffective, then what in the heck is fizzy water going to do ? But what makes it worse, if you approached these same people with something with science and a study but they have never heard of or seen on the shelves of walmart then they wont touch it.

[platypus]

I take the opposite approach. I figure exposing myself to a high number of pathogens helps build my immune system...I eat things that have fallen on the floor. When people around me get sick, I never do. But maybe I just have a good immune system to begin with?

Yes, I beleive that nosepicking is a healthy way to keep one's immune system primed to fight pathogens

[platypus]

I take the opposite approach. I figure exposing myself to a high number of pathogens helps build my immune system...I eat things that have fallen on the floor. When people around me get sick, I never do. But maybe I just have a good immune system to begin with?

Yes, I beleive that nosepicking is a healthy way to keep one's immune system primed to fight pathogens

[senseix]

I'm getting my refund thats for sure:)

[OneScrewLoose]

I take the opposite approach. I figure exposing myself to a high number of pathogens helps build my immune system...I eat things that have fallen on the floor. When people around me get sick, I never do. But maybe I just have a good immune system to begin with?

Yes, I beleive that nosepicking is a healthy way to keep one's immune system primed to fight pathogens

This was my elementary school policy.