The Truth in Advertising

Most of us have seen at least a dozen different toothpaste commercials that claim, "Three out of four dentists recommend...." You may have wondered, as I did, how each of these claims could be possibly be true. They are based on statistical evidence, so why are there such varied results? If you listen to advertising, there seems to be no clear consensus on which health-related products--aspirin, cough syrup, antihistamines--are the best.

They are all recommended by 3 out of 4 professionals. Is it possible they are making false claims? The truth is that they are all telling the truth. When it comes to marketing a health product, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is always watching to make sure advertisers never tell a lie. Statements such as _____ reduces the risk of cancer, ______ removes harmful toxins from your water, or _____ fights plaque and reduces gingivitis, must all be substantiated. In other words, the products must do what they claim. To avoid the wrath of the FTC, it is always best to tell the truth about your product or service, especially in the health industry. But what is truth? In subjective terms it is difficult to discern.

However, the FTC has many guidelines to help you find truth in your advertising:

*Before you run an ad, you have to have a "reasonable basis" for your claims. A "reasonable basis" is objective evidence that supports the claim. At a minimum, an advertiser must have the level of evidence that it claims to have. The statement "two out of three doctors recommend..." must be supported by a reliable survey.

*If the ad isn't specific, the FTC looks at several factors to determine what level of proof is necessary, including what experts in the field think is needed to support the claim.

*Ads that make health or safety claims must be supported by "competent and reliable scientific evidence" - tests, studies, or other scientific evidence that has been evaluated by people qualified to interpret it. Any tests or studies must be conducted using methods that experts in the field deem acceptable.

These are just a few of the guidelines to consider when making an advertising claim. But don't be too worried. As long as you tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, there is no reason to keep looking over your shoulder. Jane Jarvis knows the advantage of truth in advertising, and isn't afraid to use it.

About The Author

Jarvis is co-founder of cancercuresecrets.com, offering a controversial ebook that details the cancer cures you've never heard of, and the reasons you've never heard of them. To check out this revolutionary ebook, visit http://www.cancercuresecrets.com

jljarvis@tele2.it

Promotions and international sales let McDonald's wow investors while shares of Wendy's and Burger King languish amid a U.S. hunger for jobs

Indexes rose amid speculation the economy will continue to recover from the worst contraction since the Great Depression

Indexes have rallied strongly, but investor fears persist. Here's how the investing landscape has been transformed in the past 12 months

American International Group Inc. surged, leading gains by financial companies bailed out by the U.S. government, on speculation the insurer will sell more assets after raising $51 billion through deals.

Exxon Mobil, BP, and Total are investing in assets that previously weren't worth their time or money after oil-rich nations reduced access to reserves and exploration drilling faltered

Crude oil declined for the first time in three days as the dollar gained against the euro, reducing the appeal of commodities as an alternative investment.

Australia’s economy is likely to expand at or above its average pace over the next few years, stoking inflation pressures and house prices, central bank official Philip Lowe said.

The Regional Bond Dealers Association asked the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and Federal Reserve to end reporting of so-called agency debt trades until bank-affiliated brokers also must comply, saying some are seeking to avoid disclosures.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s top economist is leaving the agency after Chairman Mary Schapiro merged his office with another and passed short- selling rules that hedge funds said ignored financial analysis.

Proteccion SA, Colombia’s second- biggest pension fund, plans to invest 2.4 trillion pesos ($1.3 billion) in private equity in the next two years after reaching the government-set limit on stocks.

Wall Street analyst opinions on stocks making headlines in Tuesday's market

Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings, talks with Bloomberg's Betty Liu about Greece's fiscal woes. Rogers, speaking from Vienna, says a bankruptcy for Greece would benefit the euro. (This is an excerpt of the full interview. Source: Bloomberg)

Although vacation bookings are rising with optimism about the economy, prices for hotel rooms and cruises will need time to rebound

The jobless rate in the U.S. held at 9.7 percent in February and employment declined less than forecast even as severe winter weather may have forced some employers to temporarily close.

Wall Street analysts give their buy, sell, or hold views on 10 stocks in the news this week

What Wall Street economists and strategists had to say about key developments on Mar. 5