FTC Gives Kinoki Foot Pads the Boot

Posted By elissa on Dec 1, 2010 | 3 comments

I missed this bit of news from early November:

For Release: 11/04/2010

At FTC’s Request, Judge Imposes Ban on Marketers of “Detox” Foot Pads

Advertising Claimed “Ancient Japanese Secret” Could Treat Medical Conditions
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal judge has banned marketers of Kinoki “Detox” Foot Pads – that would purportedly remove toxins from the body through a person’s feet – from selling a wide variety of products.  The FTC charged that the marketers falsely claimed  the pads could treat numerous illnesses and medical conditions.  In a settlement announced today, the judge banned the marketers from promoting or selling any dietary supplement, food, drug, or medical device, and from assisting others in doing the same. 

As part of its efforts to crack down on bogus health claims, the FTC last year charged the promoters of  the foot pads with running deceptive ads on television and the Internet that touted the “ancient Japanese secret to perfect health” for treating wide-ranging medical conditions.

The defendants – Yehuda Levin and his company, Xacta 3000, Inc. – sold a two-week supply of Kinoki Foot Pads for $19.95, plus $9.95 for shipping and handling. 

The defendants falsely claimed to have scientific proof that the foot pads removed toxic materials from the body, according to the FTC complaint.  The defendants also advertised that when applied to the soles of consumers’ feet at night, the food pads could remove toxins, metabolic wastes, heavy metals, and chemicals from the body; treat headaches, depression, parasites, fatigue, insomnia, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, cellulite, and a weakened immune system; and cause weight loss.  In its complaint,  filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on January 27, 2009, the FTC charged that these advertising claims were false or unsupported.  

The defendants agreed to a judgment of $14.5 million, which represents the total revenues from the sale of Kinoki Foot Pads.  The entire judgment is suspended based on the defendants’ inability to pay, but will become due if they are found to have misrepresented their financial condition.

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of folks.