Sporting an ashen ‘do can make a person look distinguished — or fashion forward — but there will always be people who want to stave off the gray as long as possible. But why shell out big bucks for dye jobs, when dietary supplements promise to actually reverse the presence of gray hair? Maybe because there’s no proof that those pills will actually do anything to get rid of the grays?
The Federal Trade Commission announced Friday that a judge recently granted summary judgment against COORGA Nutraceuticals… supplements — ordering the company to refund customers $391,335 and stop claiming that Grey Defence eliminates gray hairs.
According to the ruling [PDF], COORGA engaged in unfair or deceptive practices and the misrepresentation and omission of material facts when promoting Grey Defence.
The FTC’s original complaint [PDF] against the company, filed in May 2015, claimed that COORGA marketed Grey Defence as a supplement that could break down the production of gray hair.
The product, which came in many variations including Gray Defence Xtreme and Grey Defence Xtreme2, was sold in packages ranging from $69.00/bottle to $1,269.99 for 24 bottles.
The court found that there was no scientific evidence supporting COORGA’s advertising claims that Grey Defence supplements prevent or reverse gray hair, and claims that the products are scientifically proven to do so are false.
Additionally, the court found that a customer survey touted by COORGA was not well-designed or scientifically controlled.
The court also ruled that COORGA owner Garfield Coore oversaw and directed every aspect of the business and either knew, or was recklessly indifferent about the misrepresentations and false claims used for Gray Defence.
Under the ruling, COORGA and Coore are prohibited from making gray hair-reversal or prevention claims and other health claims, unless they are not misleading and are supported by reliable scientific evidence.
The FTC previously settled similar claims with the marketers of GetAwayGrey, LLC and Rise-N-Shine, LLC, both of which are now also barred from making gray hair elimination claims unless they are not misleading and are supported by reliable scientific evidence.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist