06.08.05
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Washington, D.C., has settled a complaint with Tropicana Products, Inc., Chicago, IL, in which it alleged the company misled consumers with claims that drinking two to three glasses a day of its “Healthy Heart” orange juice would produce dramatic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol and homocysteine levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Under the terms of the consent agreement settling the charges, Tropicana is prohibited from making similar health-related claims in the future unless they can be substantiated by reliable scientific evidence. According to FTC, Tropicana ran its “Healthy Heart” ads between 2002 and early 2004 on television and in publications, such as Newsweek magazine. The ads claimed that drinking two to three cups of Tropicana orange juice each day would lower systolic blood pressure by 10 points, raise HDL cholesterol by 21% and improve the HDL to LDL cholesterol ratio by 16%, increase blood folate levels by 45% and lower blood homocysteine levels by 11%. The complaint charges that the benefits were not substantiated and claims of clinical support for them were false.