FTC Nails Infomercial Scumbags
This time, it’s the “Health Man” and associates, who were peddling the “7 Day Miracle Cleanse Program.”
The marketers of the 7 Day Miracle Cleanse Program, a purported herbal colon-cleansing program, have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they falsely claimed that their program would cure cancer and other serious diseases. Among other things, the settlements broadly ban them from involvement in future infomercials for any product, service, or program, except for infomercials for informational publications, and from advertising health-related products in the future in any medium.
According to the FTC’s complaint, one of the defendants, Paris DeAguero, appeared as “the Health Man” in nationally televised infomercials, claiming that his program cured him within weeks of skin and breast cancer without the need for surgery or other treatments. Advertising for the program allegedly claimed that it also effectively prevented, treated, and cured many other diseases, including AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis, and that it safely caused rapid and substantial weight loss. The defendants allegedly also claimed that their product, Parasine 2, was “clinically proven” to eliminate parasites and worms, including tapeworms. The FTC alleged that their claims were false or unsupported by reliable scientific studies, in violation of the FTC Act.
The FTC complaint is here, and includes transcripts of taken from the infomercials. All I can say is, wow… just wow. A small sample:
THE HEALTH MAN: Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Are you one of millions who suffer from the common ailments such as constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue, Alzheimer’s and other diseases? Have you been struggling year in and year out with your health problems? Then why should you suffer anymore?
I have the solution for you. Imagine being in control of your health. You can look and feel 10 to 20 years younger than your age, have perfect cholesterol, perfect body weight and consistent bowel eliminations, a body immune to all sickness. These are the characteristics of perfect health.
THE HEALTH MAN: In fact, the Seven Day Miracle Cleanse can extend your life 10, 20, 30 years or more.
THE HEALTH MAN: Within seven days on my first program, the improbable happened. My skin cancer sores had scabbed over. Within 14 days, they had healed completely. I repeated this program every three weeks until my tumor had completely disintegrated. This process only took four months.
“False or unsupported” doesn’t even begin to describe this. It’s a pity the “Health Man” and his co-defendants were only banned from doing infomercials and fined… they belong in jail.
