Watchdog finds 242 advertisements misleading consumers

The claims of 242 advertisements in healthcare, personal care, food and beverages and education sectors were misleading or false, said a consumer watchdog on Thursday.

"The Advertising Standard Council of India's (ASCI) Consumer Complaints Council in February upheld complaints against 242 advertisements, which were misleading or false and not scientifically substantiated," said the watchdog in a statement here.

The Council upheld complaints against 165 advertisements in the healthcare category, 31 in education, 19 in food and beverages, 9 in personal care and 18 in other categories.

"Some of the healthcare products or services' advertisements also contravened provisions of the Drug & Magic Remedies Act and Chapter 1.1 and III.4 of the ASCI code," asserted the watchdog.

The Council found the Rudralife claim -- "Rudraksha for you to achieve growth, success and wellbeing" misleading, as its medicinal usages were not proven with data.

"The Rudraksha advertisement exploits a consumer's lack of knowledge and is likely to lead to grave disappointment in the minds of consumers," noted the statement.

Similarly, Slim-N-Health's claim -- "Kavy Lypolysis is a new method due to which we can give proper shape to the body and eliminate obesity by reducing fat permanently" was not substantiated with clinical evidence.

The claim of Ayurwin Pharmaceutical Ltd -- "Last year due to obesity, I decided to get slim by using Ayurwin Nutrislim. After using it for few months, I got a beautiful and slim body," was not substantiated with product efficacy data and misleading.

In education, the Council found claims of 31 advertisers unsubstantiated and in violation of the ASCI guidelines.

The claim of Centre for Ambition -- "Top three students will get 100 per cent scholarship and 50 lakh scholarships for other students" was unsubstantiated.

In personal care, the claim of VLCC Health Care Ltd -- "Get rid of stubborn fat," was unsubstantiated and misleading. It's claim "Can see difference in just one sitting", was not substantiated with clinical evidence and misleading, as the visible difference with Cool-Sculpting technology requires multiple sittings.

The claim of Himalaya Drug Company -- "Removes tan very easily" was not substantiated and misleading by ambiguity and implication.

In food and beverages, the claim of the Delhi-based Shukla Dairy Ltd -- "If dahi (curd) is made of pure milk, then it is only of Shree Gokulam Dairy" was not substantiated with data from other products in the same category and misleading.

Dish TV India Ltd's claim -- "Watching TV won't put strain on your eyes anymore!" and "without putting strain on your kid's eyes", were not substantiated with credible evidence.

--IANS

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