Washington, D.C.—The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has won $2.2 million it its lawsuit against supplement maker Wellness Support Network Inc. (WSN) for making false or unsupported claims about its diabetes supplements.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in favor of FTC’s motion against the company and its principals, Robert Held and Robyn Held, for claiming their Diabetic Pack is “proven as an effective treatment for diabetes” and “is proven to cause an average drop in blood glucose levels of 31.9 percent” without supporting scientific evidence. The court also found that WSN falsely claimed that its Insulin Resistance Pack “reverses and manages insulin resistance,” and also “prevents diabetes.”

WSN advertised its diabetes products primarily online, calling them a “Diabetes Breakthrough” with a “90% success rate.” The Diabetes Pack and Insulin Resistance Pack contained identical blends of plant extracts, vitamins and minerals. Consumers paid $76.70 for a 30-day supply; the $2.2 million from the decision will be used to reimburse shoppers.

Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, called giving false hope to those living with a serious illness, like diabetes, “disgraceful.” The action taken against WSN is part of an ongoing operation by the FTC to end bogus claims that unproven remedies are effective treatments for serious illnesses.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, April 2014