Glucorell, Anafit settle FTC deceptive advertising claims

WASHINGTON Two marketers of dietary supplements that purportedly prevented and treated diabetes have settled Federal Trade Commission charges that they engaged in deceptive advertising practices, FTC reported Thursday.

According to the FTC’s complaint, GlucorelFTCd  and Anafit, both based in Orlando, Fla., made false and unsubstantiated claims that two dietary supplements, Insulow and Glucorell R, were effective for preventing and treating diabetes.

The order contains a judgment of $493,545, which is the total amount the defendants received in sales for Glucorell R and Insulow between January 2005 and May 2008. However, the entire judgment is suspended due to their inability to pay. If it is determined that the financial information given to the FTC was untruthful, then the full amount of the judgment will automatically become due.

Along with statements in their ads such as “Insulow may be the only thing between you … and a needle,” the defendants also made unsubstantiated claims that Insulow prevents or reduces the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes,  is an effective treatment for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, lowers high blood sugar levels, prevents or reverses insulin resistence, increases fat loss and decreases insulin-related obesity and enables diabetics to reduce or eliminate the amount of drugs and insulin required to keep blood sugar levels healthy and reduce insulin resistance, according to the complaint. The FTC also alleged that the defendants falsely advertised that all of these claims except the last had been proven by clinical studies.

For Glucorell R, the defendants’ advertisements allegedly claimed that Glucorell R is effective for treating Type 2 diabetes, prevents or reduces the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and is effective in treating and preventing cancer. According to the complaint, the defendants also falsely advertised that the last two Glucorell R claims were proven by clinical studies.

According to papers filed with the court, Glucorell has been primarily responsible for packaging, distributing and selling Insulow, and has marketed both supplements; while Anafit has been responsible for packaging, distributing, selling and marketing only Glucorell R.