FTC Charges Miles Inc. Made Unsubstantiated Ad Claims for "One-A-Day" Vitamins

FTC Charges Miles Inc. Made Unsubstantiated
Ad Claims for “One-A-Day” Vitamins

Company Agrees to Settlement

FTC News Release
October 24, 1990

The Federal Trade Commission has charged Miles, Inc., with making unsubstantiated advertising claims about the health benefits of its One-A-Day brand multiple vitamins. Miles agreed not to make such unsubstantiated claims in the future, under a consent agreement announced today for public comment.

The Commission’s complaint cites television and radio ads for One-A-Day Maximum Formula, One-A-Day Stressgard, One-A-Day Essential, One-A-Day Plus Extra C, and One-A-Day-Within, which made such claims as:

“Strenuous exercise can actually knock essential minerals right out of your system. But One-A-Day vitamins are uniquely formulated to help put back what your world takes away.”
“One-A-Day vitamins are uniquely formulated to put back what your stressful world takes away.…”
“Defending your lungs against air pollution requires vitamins A, E and C. Daily stress can chip away at your B vitamins. And rigorous physical training can actually knock essential minerals right out of your system. That’s why One-A-Day vitamins are uniquely formulated to help put back what your world takes away.”

According to the complaint, Miles did not have a reasonable basis for claiming that:

ordinary rigorous physical exercise depletes essential minerals in the body so that consumption of a daily vitamin supplement, such as One-A-Day, is necessary or beneficial.
consumption of vitamins A, C and E, in the form and amount contained in One-A-Day protects human lungs against the adverse effects caused by typical air pollution; and
the stress of daily living depletes vitamin B in the body so that consumption of a daily vitamin supplement, such as One-A-Day, is necessary or beneficial.

Under the consent agreement, Miles will not make any of the challenged claims for any vitamin or mineral supplement, unless it has competent and reliable scientific evidence to substantiate the claims. In addition, it will not make any representation concerning the need for or benefits to be derived from any One-A-Day brand product, unless it has competent and reliable scientific evidence to substantiate the claims.

Miles is based in Elkhart, IN. The FTC’s Cleveland Regional Office handled the investigation.

FTC Charges Miles Inc. Made Unsubstantiated Ad Claims for “One-A-Day” Vitamins