Smiling Bob and the Supplement Industry

[MineralMan]

I like to use Smiling Bob and the Enzyte commercials as examples of the supplement industry. You all remember Smiling Bob and his annoying commercials for over the counter erection pills. Well, they didn't work, unless as a placebo they got some men over their psychological impotence. The story of Enzyte and its history is interesting to read, and should be part of everyone's education on these supplements. How many other bogus supplements are there out there, supported by vague claims of efficacy? Nobody knows.

Read the facts about Enzyte, and stop and think about supplements:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyte

[limpyhobbler]

1. Enzyte is being sold over the counter at truck stops. It's right up there at the checkout near the

5-hour energy and the other vitamins.

[MineralMan]

2. Oh, it's still for sale, but the TV ads were banned.

Since it's a "nutritional supplement," it's not regulated by the FDA. The false claims caused the ads to be killed by the FTC. But, the company can continue to sell this "supplement" to people. This is the problem, in a nutshell.

They can still advertise on the internet. Here's their site:

https://www.officialenzyte.com/

[Celebration]

3. "male enhancement"

Isn't a medical term. That is the rub, so to speak. It could mean different things to different people. It certainly makes no medical claims.

[MineralMan]

4. Not directly, anyhow. It's typical of the language

tricks the supplement industry uses. "Supports heart health..." "Supports prostate health..." "Supports the immune system..." What do those phrases mean, really? Nothing, so they can continue to get away with advertising, using meaningless pseudo-medical claims. I'm sure there are attorneys who will advise them on these things.

[limpyhobbler]

5. They are kind of like modern-day snake oil salesmen.

They don't have to prove their product actually does anything. They use all weasel words and don't make any concrete claims.

[MineralMan]

6. Exactly, and as long as the product doesn't harm

the customer, the customer has absolutely no recourse. It's a lucrative racket.

[Celebration]

7. well the cereal companies put vitamins in them

implying that they are good for you. Was it Wheaties that put Olympic athletes on the box? Didn't that increase sales? Didn't that imply that kids would be great athletes if they bought Wheaties?

Isn't it the breakfast of champions?

Isn't that an "implied health claim?"

Lots of things to get upset about in advertising, but at least in none of the above is it third party payers footing the bill. People are making their own economic decisions. I would get REALLY upset if a government agency was paying for someone else's Wheaties or male enhancement product.

[greatauntoftriplets]

8. I've never seen those commercials....

but I probably would have tuned them out.