|
Taking
the buyers for a ride
| 1. |
Normal soap is enough to deal
with bacteria |
| |
A recent Australian study found that
people using antibacterial kitchen sprays, floor cleaners,
liquid soap and laundry powder got sick just as often as a group
that used regular cleaning products.Another US study shows that
antibacterial soaps also don't reduce infections any more than
non-medicated soaps. Researchers from Columbia University
in New York, who examined manufacturers' claims that these so
called antibacterial products reduce infections, concluded
otherwise.In the study, half of the households received products
containing antibacterial ingredients, including triclosan,
quaternary ammonium compounds and oxygenated bleach. The other
half received identical compounds but without the antibacterial
agents. Over 48 weeks the researchers tracked the number of
reported infections such as running nose, cough, sore throat,
fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The households with the
antibacterial products reported just as many infections as the
households with the regular products.The most important factor
in preventing illness is personal hygiene-washing and drying
your hands-and normal soap is enough to deal with bacteria.
Domex, New Domex Thick, Domex 2-in-1 Phenolic Cleaner,
Harpic, Lizol etc claim that their products kill germs and
bacteria.
|
| 2. |
Herbal
remedy is no cure for a cold |
| |
 The
herbal remedy, Echinacea, guaranteed by many as the best remedy
of cold and flu, is ineffective in fighting with cold
virus.According to Daily Mail, the study conducted by Dr.
Sperber has been published in the journal Clinical Infectious
Diseases.For the study, some people were given Echinacea and
some placebo, and after that they were subjected to cold virus.
Nine out of 10 persons in both the groups, showed symptoms of
bad cold."The medications may not be standardized from one brand
to another. The particular components of the plant and the
amounts of active ingredients may not be the same. Echinacea is
not regulated the same as an approved drug." Sperber said."The
results clearly show Echinacea is useless. Although widely used,
a number of well-designed studies show it not to be effective in
preventing the common cold. The cold is an illness that affects
everybody and for which there is no scientifically proven cure,"
he said.
Echinaceae
radix u. folium |
| 3. |
US
FTC Charges Liberty QVC Shopping Channel on Ads |
| |
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission
said on Wednesday it has charged Liberty Media Corp.'s QVC
television shopping channel with making false claims for
weight-loss products.The company had agreed in June 2000 to back
up its claims with scientific evidence, the FTC said, making it
liable for penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. QVC
violated that order by claiming that its For Women Only "Zero
Fat" pills prevent absorption of dietary fat, the FTC said.The
company also made unsubstantiated claims for a variety of other
pills, drinks and bars that supposedly help weight loss or boost
energy, the FTC said.The FTC said it was seeking civil
penalties, consumer redress, and other penalties against
Liberty.A spokesman for the Englewood, Colorado, media company
was not immediately available for comment. |
| 4. |
Walker
contraption |
| |
The
advertisement for morning Walker appeared in gujarati &
English dailies with testimonials from customers claiming to
cure obesity, diabetes, spondylitis, arthritis, digestive
disorders, insomnia, cardiopulmonary diseases & more was
investigated by the Consumer Education & Research Centre (CERC),
Suraksha Sankul, thaltej, Ahmedabad- Gandhinagar highway,
Ahmedabad-380052, email: cerc.ahd@cerc.sprintrpg.sprint.com.
Though the manufacturer claimed that reputed medical
Institutions certified the Product, including the Japanese
Medical Affairs Bureau the company could not provide any
proof. Also, doctors confirm that’ no work machines cannot
be a substitute for proper exercise and dieting. |
| 5. |
Micro massage stimulator |
| |
Another
ad offers “ Micro Massage Stimulator” for Rs 7600 for
breast enlargement. The ad claim the product is from
Netherlands & is approved by US Food & Drug
administration. Stimulators or exercise cannot enlarge breast
size as per doctors. |
| 6. |
Selecting the sex of a Child |
| |
An
ad for selecting the sex of a child with a Gen-select Kit
priced at Rs. 7000 is unscientific and illegal as per
Gynecologists. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)
has ordered the ad to be discontinued. If you find an ad
objectionable, write to the ASCI, 205,Bombay Market, Tardeo
Road, Mumbai-400034, Phone 022-493 6863, 493 7066, Fascimile:
022-4936863, email asci@bom5.vsnl.net.inenclosing a clipping
of the ad. |
| 7. |
“Antacids”
Fails In Acid Test |
| |
A new Study on antacids has added fuel to
the fire on their effectiveness, published in the consumer
magazine ‘Insight’. The study, which employed a glass
stomach simulator, tested 35 brands of four Categories of
antacids. While most
brands gave relief within minutes, the maximum relief any
antacid offers is only for up to 52 minutes. The popular ENO
Fruit Salt beat all other with a 52-minute efficacy. While
Digene Gel and Dey’s Milk of Magnesia in the
liquid category clocked 30 minutes. The best buy according to
the study is Visco Chewable tablets with 22 minutes and
lower price.
|
| 8. |
Immuno-QR |
| |
Kerala’s highest income tax payer
(Rs. 1.5 Crore) and selling “ wonder herbal cure” immuno-QR,
built a marble palace recently at the cost of Rs. 5.5 Crore
and aptly named it “ Virus” to show the world the
popularity of his medicine and the money he made from it.
The first blow came when his showpiece, Chitra,
India’s first HIV positive woman, whom Majid claimed to have
cured, died last year. Next came a High Court order
restraining him from manufacturing any medicine, including the
AIDS drug “ Immuno-QR” last month, the Kerala
Government’s Drugs Controller raided his office and seized
medicines made without licence.
Majid on his part has now submitted an Application for
Manufacturing 10 new medicines that include drugs for
cataract, TB, bedsore, asthma, hepatitis-B and psoriasis. |
| 9. |
Viga, a dietary
supplement found to contain Sildenafil |
| |
Best Life International
warned consumers not to purchase or consume the product known
as Viga. This product, which is being marketed as a dietary
supplement, contains the unlabeled drug ingredient sildenafil,
which may
pose possible serious health risks to some users. Viga is sold
in bottles of 30 tablets which are distributed by Best Life
International Inc. This product is being promoted for
increasing desire, confidence and sexual
performance. The product is sold without medical prescription.
The interaction between nitrates and sildenafil can result in
profound and life-threatening lowering of blood pressure. The
use of nitrates in any form is an absolute contraindication
for sildenafil users. The potential for this
product to be taken by unknowing nitrate users is real, since
erectile dysfunction is often a concurrent condition in
patients with diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smokers
and patients with ischemic heart
disease.
Read the 2003 MedWatch safety alert, including a link to the
company press release concerning the voluntary recall, at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2003/safety03.htm#viga
|
| |
Contact
for any complaint related to misleading advertisements: -
|
| |
Consumer Education &
Research Centre (CERC), Suraksha Sankul, thaltej, Ahmedabad-
Gandhinagar highway, Ahmedabad-380052, email: cerc.ahd@cerc.sprintrpg.sprint.com.
The Advertising Standards
Council of India (ASCI), 205,Bombay Market, Tardeo Road,
Mumbai-400034, Phone 022-493 6863, 493 7066, Fascimile:
022-4936863, email asci@bom5.vsnl.net
|
| |
Diseases
And Ailments (By Whatever Name Described) Which A Drug May Not
Purport To Prevent For Cure or Make Claims To Prevent or Cure
as per Schedule J of
Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945 &
prohibition of advertisements of certain drugs as per
Drugs And Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act,
1954 |
| |
Schedule
J
(Rule
106)
Drugs
& Cosmetics Rules, 1945
|
Schedule
[Sections
39(d) and 14]
Drugs
And Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act,
1954
|
|
Diseases
And Ailments (By Whatever Name Described) Which A Drug
May Not Purport To Prevent For Cure or Make Claims To
Prevent or Cure
|
|
1.
AIDS
|
27.
Insanity
|
1.
Appendicitis
|
28.
Hydrocele
|
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2.
Angina Pectoris
|
28.
Increase in brain capacity and improvement of memory
|
2.
Arteriosclerosis
|
29.
Hysteria
|
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3.
Appendicitis
|
29.
Improvement in height of Children/ adults
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3.
Blindness
|
30.
Infantile Paralysis
|
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4.
Arteriosclerosis
|
30.Improvement
in size and shape of the sexual organ and in duration
of sexual performance
|
4.
Blood poisoning
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31.Insanity
|
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5.
Baldness
|
31.
Improvement in the strength of the natural teeth
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5.
Bright’s disease
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32.Leprosy
|
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6.
Blindness
|
32.
Improvement in vision
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6.
Cancer
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33.
Leucoderma
|
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7.
Bronchial Asthma
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33.
Jaundice/ Hepatitis/ Liver Disorders
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7.
Cataract
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34.
Lockjaw
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8.
Cancer and Benign Tumour
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34.
Leukemia
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8.
Deafness
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35.
Locomotor Ataxia
|
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9.
Cataract
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35.
Leukoderma
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9.
Diabetes
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36.
Lupus
|
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10.
Change in colour of the hair and growth of new hair
|
36.
Maintenance or improvement of the capacity of the
human beings for sexual pleasure
|
10.
Diseases and disorders of the brain
|
37.
Nervous debility
|
|
11.
Change of foetal sex by drugs
|
37.
Mental retardation, subnormalities and growth
|
11.
Disease and disorders of the optical system
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38.
Obesity
|
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12.
Congenital malformations
|
38.
Myocardial infarction
|
12.
Diseases and disorders of the uterus system
|
39.
Paralysis
|
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13.
Deafness
|
39.
Obesity
|
13.
Disorders of menstrual flow
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40.
Plague
|
|
14.
Diabetes
|
40.
Paralysis
|
14.
Disorders of the nervous system
|
41.
Pleurisy
|
|
15.
Diseases and Disorders of uterus
|
41.
Parkinsonism
|
15.
Disorders of the prostatic gland
|
42.
Pneumonia
|
|
16.
Epileptic fits and psychiatric disorders
|
42.
Piles and Fistulae
|
16.
Dropsy
|
43.
Rheumatism
|
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17.
Encephalitis
|
43.
Power to rejuvinate
|
17.
Epilepsy
|
44.
Ruptures
|
|
18.
Fairness of the skin
|
44.
Premature ageing
|
18.
Female diseases (in general)
|
45.
Sexual Impotence
|
|
19.
Form, Structure of breast
|
45.
Premature graying of hair
|
19.
Fevers (in general)
|
46.
Smallpox
|
|
20.
Gangrene
|
46.
Rheumatic Heart Diseases
|
20.
Fits
|
47.
Stature of persons
|
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21.
Genetic disorders
|
47.
Sexual Impotence, Premature ejaculation and
spermatorrhoea
|
21.
Form and structures of the female bust
|
48.
Sterility in women
|
|
22.
Glaucoma
|
48.
Spondylitis
|
22.
Gallstones, kidney stones and bladder stones
|
49.
Trachoma
|
|
23.
Goitre
|
49.
Stammering
|
23.
Gangrene
|
50.
Tuberculosis
|
|
24.
Hernia
|
50.
Stones in gall-bladder, kidney, bladder
|
24.
Glaucoma
|
51.
Tumours
|
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25.High/
Low Blood Pressure
|
51.
Varicose Vein
|
25.
Goitre
|
52.
Typhoid fever
|
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26.Hydrocele
|
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26.
Heart diseases
|
53.
Ulcers of the gastro-intestinal tract
|
|
|
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27.
High or Low Blood Pressure
|
54.
Venereal diseases, including syphilis, gonorrhoea,
soft chancre venereal granuloma and lympho granuloma
|
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