FTC Approves Final Order Settling Deceptive Advertising Charges Against Former POM Wonderful Vice President Mark Dreher

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Mark Dreher, Ph.D. – who was Vice President of Science and Regulatory Affairs of POM Wonderful LLC from approximately August 2005 to May 2009 – made false and unsubstantiated claims that POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice and POMx supplements prevent or treat heart disease and prostate cancer.

The FTC Order bars Dreher from making any disease treatment or prevention claim in advertising for a POM Wonderful product unless the claim is not misleading and comports with FDA requirements.  The Order further prohibits Dreher from making other health claims for a food, drug, or dietary supplement for human use, including as an expert endorser, without competent and reliable scientific evidence to support the claim.  The Order also contains a cooperation clause, and reporting provisions to help the FTC monitor compliance.  The FTC’s case against POM Wonderful LLC and others is ongoing.

The Commission vote approving the final order was 5-0. (FTC File No. 0823122; the staff contact is Janet Evans, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2125; see press release, complaint, and consent order dated September 27, 2010.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s website at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580.  Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.