Ahh-Choo! Grab a Tissue, Not Airborne

AG Crashes Airborne Health Claims

Airborne, “the effervescent health formula,” might be effervescent but it won’t do a darn thing for your sniffles, officials say.

The maker of Airborne dietary supplements will pay $7 million to settle allegations by Connecticut and 31 other states that it made false claims about the benefits of its fruit-flavored products.

The suit claims that Florida-based Airborne Health made false claims about its products' effectiveness in preventing and treating colds and other ailments.

This is the largest settlement ever involving a dietary supplement maker, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said. Connecticut will likely get about $150,000.

Dietary supplements are not subject to FDA approval and the settlement should make clear that companies cannot sell 'snake oil' in Connecticut, claiming it has health benefits with nothing to substantiate such claims, Blumenthal said.

Airborne Health will discontinue any claims about the "health benefit, performance, efficacy or safety" of its supplements in preventing and treating colds and other ailments.

The company markets a line of water-dissolving tablets that are sold in pharmacies and grocery stores nationwide.

Earlier this year, the company agreed earlier this year to pay out $30 million to settle nearly identical allegations stemming from a class action lawsuit brought by consumers and the Federal Trade Commission.

The company does not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement and said sales of its products will not be affected.

Similar cases involving popular herbal remedies that not only have no proof of benefit but could also have harmful side effects are pending, Blumenthal said.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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