NAD to New Nordic US: Discontinue Mulberry Zuccarin dietary supplement ad claims

NEW YORK — The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus earlier this week recommended that New Nordic US modify or discontinue a wide range of advertising claims for the company’s Mulberry Zuccarin dietary supplement product, including claims made in testimonials.

The advertiser agreed to discontinue the unsubstantiated claim that its supplement induced weight loss for 1,500 customers. Zuccarin contains a single botanical dietary ingredient, white mulberry extract, and did not conduct any testing on the product itself but relied instead on studies conducted on the product’s active ingredient to support its claims.

Following its review, the NAD determined that the evidence provided by the advertiser was insufficient to support weight-loss claims or claims that the product blocks carbohydrate digestion or stabilizes blood sugar levels. The NAD recommended the advertiser discontinue such claims.

New Nordic US, in its advertiser’s statement, said it would discontinue the advertising in question and include the following disclaimer in future advertising: “Mulberry Zuccarin is not a prescription drug and is not intended to replace medications.”