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Weight loss supplements are notorious for producing negative publicity for the supplement industry. This specific category of supplements attracts the most unscrupulous of characters. Illegal products that are often adulterated with drugs are a serious problem.
Products that claim to lower weight quickly, often showing dramatic before and after pictures – are easy to spot. I believe most of my readers know these types of claims are too good to be true, but many consumers are deceived by these unreasonable ads of potentially illegal products.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently cracked down on false advertising of weight loss supplements, which led to a Senate’s Consumer Protection panel hearing1 being held on June 17, to determine what can be done to protect consumer from weight loss scams.
Please note that current regulations make these products illegal, and the FDA and FTC have ramped up enforcement by prosecuting many of these characters.
Senate Hearing Puts Dr. Oz in the Hot Seat
The hearing featured testimony from Dr. Mehmet Oz, who ended up getting grilled over his role in promoting what amounts to fantasy.2 According to Senator Claire McCaskill’s website:
“Last month the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it is suing the Florida-based company, Pure Green Coffee, alleging that it capitalized on the green coffee bean diet fad by using bogus weight-loss claims and fake news websites to market its dietary supplement.
The FTC claimed that weeks after green coffee was promoted on the Dr. Oz Show, Pure Green Coffee began selling their Pure Green Coffee extract, charging $50 for a one-month supply.”
Senator McCaskill read off a number of statements Dr. Oz has made on his show, such as:
“You may think magic is make-believe, but this little bean has scientists saying they’ve found the magic weight loss cure for every body type: It’s green coffee extract.”
“I’ve got the number-one miracle in a bottle, to burn your fat: It’s raspberry ketone.” “Garcinia cambogia: It may be the simple solution you’ve been looking for to bust your body fat for good.”
“I don’t know why you need to say this stuff,” McCaskill said,
“because you know it’s not true.” Indeed, Dr. Oz is quite knowledgeable and we agree on many things. Unfortunately, I think he may have fallen into the ratings game when it comes to pushing “magic” weight loss pills.
I personally disagree with his stance on hyping up weight loss supplements. I’m particularly against the idea that a pill would be able to take the place of eating right and exercising, and this is something Dr. Oz is likely encouraged to promote due to successful ratings.