Hoodia product rapped for misleading advertising
A UK company has been told to amend advertising for a hoodia gordonii product for which claims were being made that it could reduce calorie intake, lose weight, boost mood, act as an aphrodisiac and more.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) told Pure Slim Ltd that although the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) notes hoodia can be effective in weight control, it also recommends it be sold without usage advice, and so the ASA took issue with Pure Slim’s messaging on that ground while questioning the scientific backing for its claims.
Pure Slim said it had worked closely with MHRA but this was not accepted by the ASA.
Claims Oprah Winfrey and Desperate Housewives stars had used or recommended hoodia were also refuted by the ASA along with a case study that was found not to be supported by scientific evidence.
