Pax Arcana
While they stopped short of copping to selling cheery tubes of snake oil pills, the makers of popular “anti-cold” herbal supplement Airborne have agreed to settle a class-action false advertising lawsuit for $23 million.
Turns out the “double-blind, placebo-controlled” study Airborne claimed proved the efficacy of the supplement was two guys in a motel room with a Dora the Explorer chemistry set:
GNG is actually a two-man operation started up just to do the Airborne study. There was no clinic, no scientists and no doctors. The man who ran things said he had lots of clinical trial experience. He added that he had a degree from Indiana University, but the school says he never graduated.
Of course, Airborne has money to spare. The company made about $100 million in 2006, according to the New York Times, largely on the strength of its innovative product positioning on store shelves:
Airborne carved out its niche through a combination of catchy commercials, star power and savvy placement on drugstore shelves. Dietary supplements are usually gathered in one place and cold medicines in another, but Airborne usually sits right next to NyQuil, without the trouble of Food and Drug Administration testing and approval.
Oprah Winfrey, Howard Stern, Kevin Costner and other stars endorse the product, and the teacher-inventor has appeared on the “Dr. Phil” and “Live With Regis and Kelly” television shows and others, chattering away about Airborne’s benefits.
But, but, but I just know it works
Full disclosure: Pax Arcana has purchased and used Airborne — before a flight from Vegas to Boston in 2006 when I was feeling a bit fatigued and scratchy in the throat. I felt better after landing in Boston, but I suspect that had more to do with leaving the hostile ambient environment of a hotel/casino than with the cheap vitamin supplement I paid $15 for.
I doubt I’ll do it, but if you’re so inclined, you can head to this Web site to apply for reimbursement for your Airbone purchase. And next time, just take some Vitamin C or, you know, something with actual medicine in it.
Makers of Airborne Settle False-Ad Suit With Refunds [New York Times]
Fake cold remedy Airborne settles lawsuit — get your cash back [Boing Boing]
7 Comments
March 5, 2008 at 11:01 am
Mark me down as gullible; that shit works. I’ve taken it quite few times while traveling or otherwise indisposed and always felt better. Plus it makes a mean daquiri.
March 5, 2008 at 11:12 am
You dirty hippie.
Not surprised you felt better. It is vitamins, after all, and you also force yourself to drink plenty of liquid when taking it.
It kind of reminds me of the old line about colds:
“With proper medical care, a common cold can be cured in just two days. Left untreated, however, the cold can linger for 48 hours.”
March 5, 2008 at 5:03 pm
It was created by a germaphobe-schoolteacher, right? I read a business case on Airborne some time ago and I just remember that part and not much else. Nothing about two guys. I did think to myself…why would I buy something medicinal from someone who’s not a doctor? It was my understanding Airbourne wasn’t doing much else than making cookies by purchasing different store-brand vitamins, melting them, mixing it all up in a bowl, hardening it into little super vitamins and throwing it into a new unique box sporting cute ‘n cuddly looking germs.
Reminds me of a line from the Simpsons when Mr Burns is at the doctor and they find in him every disease known to man…the doctor says “…and this cute little bugger is pancreatic cancer!”
March 6, 2008 at 8:39 am
If the mind thinks it works, it will work, even if not clinically proven to work. I have never tried it, but know others who swear by it.
March 6, 2008 at 9:15 am
Then it’s my mind keeping those “male enhancement” pills from working? And here I thought it was because it was a scam. Man, my wife is gonna be pissed.
March 6, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Thank you for the tip. I put in a reimbursement for some of the gummies I wasted my money on.
March 18, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I had my doubts about Airborne. I’ve worked at the same company for ten years and nine of those years I had a terrible cold at Christmas. I started taking Airborne after Thanksgiving. Last Christmas was the first time in ten years I didn’t have a cold. I have continued to take it. Several people around me have been ill, but I’ve yet to get sick. (knock on wood) I don’t know what else to say. I don’t own stock in the company. I think it works. I don’t know the nature of the lawsuit against the company, but I’m willing to bet whoever filed it was looking for a quick buck. Apparently they got their wish. As for me…I think I’ll keep taking the Airborne.