The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) is a voluntary, self-regulatory organization for India’s advertising industry. The council and its Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) evaluate complaints from consumers and industry which assert that advertisements are false, misleading, indecent, illegal, leading to unsafe practices, and/or or unfair to competition, and therefore violate the ASCI Code for Self-Regulation in Advertising. In January and February, the complaints that were upheld against health-related claims included:
- “Hypoxi India – A guaranteed solutions to Burn Fat,” The CCC received a complaint against a print ad that makes claims of reducing up to 4 cms from one’s stomach and waist and up to 8 cms from one’s buttock in just a few weeks. These claims need to be supported with data based on the independent scientific research. The advertiser should also explain as to what the Hypoxi method is. The CCC concluded that in the absence of statistically significant data from an independent scientific research institute, the claims made in the advertisement and cited in the complaint were not substantiated.
| - A1 Health n Wellness came up with a print ad that claims that one can “loose up to 10 kgs and 20 inches in 24 hrs @ 6999/-.” The ad did not provide any address, only mentioned a phone number. The CCC concluded that such claims can misguide the consumers and cause wide spread grievance.
- Advanced Hair Studio – Hair Replacement” The CCC received a complaint against the print ad which made tall claims like “World’s most advanced unique procedures that India has never seen or heard before,” “100% guarantee to give you a full head of hair,” “Only company in the world to have 4 patented/ unique procedures for hair loss under one roof,” “One stop shop to fix any kind of a hair loss problem regardless of age and gender,” “Procedure performed over 1 million + people worldwide,” “40 years of excellence, innovation and research,” “The world’s largest hair replacement, re-growth and extension company.” The CCC stated that advertiser should provide proof, supporting technical information, with details of reports of tests/trials conducted from an independent recognized testing institution, in substantiation of these claims. In the absence of any details provided, the complaint was upheld.
- Hindustan Unilever’s Pepsodent G Gum Care. The CCC received a complaint against the print ad that claims, “The only toothpaste in the country with the unique combination of GUMGUARD which prevents gum bleeding and gum swelling and GERMICHECK which protects teeth,” “provides germ protection to protect teeth” or “prevents acid attack (pH drop) in the mouth by oral bacteria” and that “Pepsodent G Gum Care provides “up to 18 hours germ protection”. The advertiser provided enough data and concluded that the claims of being the only toothpaste with the unique combination of Gumgaurd and Germicheck and that is provided up to 18 hours germ protection were not upheld. However, the claim that it is the only toothpaste which prevents gum bleeding and gum swelling was false and misleading and was upheld. The claims that “other toothpastes without the actives of Triclosan and Zinc Citrate do not prevent acid attack in the mouth,” is misleading.
- Vegan Skyshop’s Gymnedine Capsules were pulled up as it made claims of curing Diabetes. The CCC concluded that in the absence of technical data, the claim was not substantiated. Also, it contravened The Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995 and The Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
