Transcripts For CSPAN2 Weight-Loss Product Advertising 20140825

Party sat down and looked at his voter base. I also covered demographics. American america is becoming majority minority country. The republicans found out that there voter base was lacking minorities. They sat down over the last couple of president ial elections and tried to come up with a plan to make their party more attractive to africanamerican, hispanic, and asian voters. Because historically africanAmerican Voters start out in the Republican Party. Started out with the Republican Party. They now want them to come back so they are out doing Grassroots Efforts to attempt to bring these voters back to the republican polls. Host that is in terms of numbers courtesy of the Census Department and published by the organization a growing black vote and in a comparison to what we saw in 2000 with 13 million casting their ballots in a president ial election in the 2,012th approaching 18 million growing. Guest right. One of the reasons behind that was the historic candidacy of barack obama but we are also seeing a growing number of minority voters and not in that election years so if things right now that the number of minority voters in america is increasing overall. And the Republican Party wants to get those votes on its side. The majority are going to dedicate the gop is making an effort to bring some of these votes to the republican side. Its still to be seen how effective these efforts are going to be. Host according to the Associated Press he mentioned and 2008 and 2012 when barack obama was leading to ballot through the overwhelming majority in 2012 and 90 and 23 voting for Democratic Candidates slightly less but still strong back in 200493 of the africanAmerican Voters cast their ballots for the democrat in that case and john kerry in 2004. Guest ever since the movement in the south, when the dixiecrat went from republican to democrat to republican ever since then, the africanamerican vote had been majority democrats. There are still black republicans out there. They are still out. They are active. But the overwhelming approach that we have is that most African Americans vote democrat and its going to be a difficult time right now for republicans to get change especially coming behind president barack obama speak ive candidacy in the white house. Now i went out with some republican candidates in georgia and they are starting at the grassroots level. They are going to churches and Community Centers to the black and hispanic businesspeople. They are starting basically from scratch and hoping to build up from the bottom. But that going to be a yearlong effort. Its not something that is going to change overnight. Thiovernight. Its a bit hard to see their efforts to be Effective Immediately in this upcoming midterm elections. One of the things we did see especially if you look at the Mississippi Republican primary where thad cochran was trying to win the gop Nomination Committee of africanamericans did turn out and vote in the primary. The question that we are not able to answer yet is dead they come out to vote republican or just to vote for mr. Cochran but we did see a high increase in the number of africanAmerican Voters in the primary. Host just tuning in or listening on cspan radio the guest covers the rate cut at the city and rate, fsb and demographic issues for the Associated Press. The question we are asking this morning apart from the economist can do a gop rule and forget American Voters annals of africanamerican candidates . This is a democrat that worked with president clinton as a speechwriter. The republicans pushing to restrict voting rates nationwide are banking on inattention by the american people. And bold and by the Supreme Court case limiting the reach of the 1965 Voting Rights act of visitorleaders have moved swifta number of states the early voting an and the sameday registration. Is that a paradox because often they are those that cast their ballots early according to a number of studies. Asked whether definitely is a paradox. They would want to make it as easy as possible to vote. A lot of republican operatives will tell you that even africanamericans are concerned about voter fraud and thats one of the issues they try to point out when they look at the voter id law. However one of the practical effects obviously is that it makes it harder for some people to vote. One of the things we have been looking at is whether this effort can boomerang. So if someone sees you if someone thinks that youre trying to take away their power to vote, that may make it even more intent to make sure they vote. Some people say that the voter id efforts could actually boomerang and bring more people to the polls to exercise the right than they would have otherwise. That is one of the things we have to keep our eye on when the Elections Come around in november. Host thinks free mature getting up early on a monday morning adding your perspective to the issue. We appreciate it. Thank you. Television talkshow host doctor oz defending the language and products he focuses on in his show. Comments came during the subcommittee hearing on the fraudulent weightloss. The advertising practice associate director with the ftc was among the witnesses. Senator mccaskill chairs the hearing. The witnesses can feel free to go ahead and take a seat and we will begin with some Opening Statements and then move to your testimony. The hearing will come to order. We have all heard and seen the ads promising quick and substantial weight loss if only you take this pill, drink this shake that use this device were applied to this cream. It seems to be good to be true and it is. We have a short clip of some of these ads that have run on television, online radio and in print that im going to play so its clear what we are talking about today. Its the amazing clinically proven sensation that you sprinkle on to take the weight off. Whether you need to lose 10 pounds, 50 pounds or more unannounced uk and without dieting. Simply sprinkle sensa on me all the food you love and watch the pounds come off. Its that easy. You do lose weight faster and easier than you ever dreamed possible. I lost over 120 pounds with sensa. This Scientists Say theyve found a cure for every body type. Its green coffee beans and when turned into a supplement, this pill can burn fat fast for anyone who wants to lose weight. Breaking news. Millions of you love coffee but now youre going to love it for a whole other reason. A new study revealed the coffee bean in its purest form may hold the secret secret to weight lost you have been waiting for. The study presents the largest society triggered unprecedented excitement. It showed women and men who took the green coffee extract with an astounding amount of fat and weight 17 pounds and 22 weeks by doing absolutely nothing extra in their day. Could this help melt away the unwanted pounds that you have been waiting for . We also have a satellite radio ad that we were going to play. There are lots of terrible ads on satellite radio. Its easy to understand why so many are willing to take a chance and ignore their instincts and belief in the claims like these. According to the most recent data from the center for Disease Control and prevention more than one third of American Adults are obese and 70 are either obese or overweight. This story of the epidemic is colored by thcovered by the surs that the zaire among americans to lose weight but consistently is failing to put in the effort to do so. In 2013 a survey showed that 51 of adults wanted to lose weight while 25 said they were seriously working towards that goal. The mismatch between american state of desire to shed weight and the lack of effort can perhaps explain the growth of the industry and the deceptive advertising for weightloss products. With so Many Americans are desperate for anything that might make it easier to lose weight it is no wonder scam artists have turned the 60 billiondollar weight loss market to make a quick buck. Sadly this is not a new problem. The federal trade commission filed its first case in 1927. They claimed in the true romance magazine that excess fat is literally dissolved away leaving the figure slim and properly rounded giving grace to the body that every man and woman desires. Since 1927 the ftc has filed more than 250 cases challenging false unproven weightloss claims including just this year the settlement announced in january and last month a complaint filed in federal court against the sellers of a green coffee settlement. More than one and had claims are in fact for the weightloss products. But the problem is much larger than any Enforcement Agency can tackle on its own. Private stakeholders, companies that sell weightloss products, Media Outlets and other advertising platforms as well as consumer watchdogs must all do their part to help address this problem. Media outlets and advertising problems in particular server is a critical gatekeeper wellpositioned to keep false advertising from reaching consumers. I appreciate who represent the platforms being here today to discuss the recent report on this issue, th the challenges Online Companies face in addressing the false deceptive advertising and what more they can do. But the problem is not limited to the internet and preparing for this hearing my staff reached out to a variety of Media Companies across all mediums to understand the industry practices and screenings and monitoring advertising. I find it troubling that broadcast satellite witnesses asked to be here today were not willing to appear. Going to appear. To me this indicates there is something to hide what they dont have a good story to tell. Either way, we will not be effective in addressing this problem until all stay coders take it seriously. Like in virtually any other industry there are good actors and bad actors. We will hear in the council for nutrition to trade association for the dietary supplement industry and the Better Business Bureau Advertising selfregulatory counseled about industrys efforts to police itself. We will also hear from the medical doctor and a host of a very popular daytime show that frequently airs the segments on weightloss issues and products and that is frequently cited in the advertisements used to market the product. I will have tough questions for you today about the role in tangible or not in perpetuating these scams. When you feature the product on your show it creates what has become known as the effect reducing sales and driving at the scam artists to pop up overnight using false deceptive ads. While i understand your message is also focused on the basics like ill be eating and exercise im concerned that your advice and entertainment in the way that harms consumers. The subcommittee has looked at a number of scams affecting consumers and in most of the cases they resulted in financial loss which can certainly be devastating but what makes the weightloss scam standout is the model may result in financial losses but they can potentially for the Consumers Health at risk. I hope to hear suggestions to be about how we can better in Power Consumers with the tools and knowledge needed to awful victims to weightloss scams and with more stakeholders can and should be doing to keep the weightloss ads from reaching consumers in the first place. I look forward to hearing from the Witnesses Today and i think you all for being here. Spec thank you for holding this hearing regarding the weightloss industry and i want to thank all the witnesses for taking time for being here also. We all know that Weight Management is an interest to Many Americans and probably should have politicians to that. Itcertainly the 65,000,002,015 alone in one estimate. And demand are attempting to improve their health and lifestyles it seems to me that many and perhaps even most of the products and services are legitimate making i this possibe substantiated representation by Health Benefits and other claims. But unlike any other marketplace, there are bad actors in the base that makes widely a runny as claims about the products. There are also fraudsters and those that seize upon the fans. The key to the weightloss is a combination of diet and exercise. A person would be suspect of a weight loss cure our miracle pill. That being said i can understand how a person may question their own assumptions when a person who they belief has credibility on the issue makes a claim about any particular product. Thats why im pleased we are joined today by ms. Mary engel is the associate director of the advertising practices within the ftc bureau of Consumer Protection. I applaud the work to shut down the scam artists and look forward to learning more about the commissions success this year in bringing the series of cases under the agencys existing section authority. Against a number of Companies Engaged in deceptive advertising of weightloss products. Also look forward to hearing about how the commission is applying its reasonable basis standard for substantiated Health Claims including weightloss and what it considers to be reliable evidence. Its pursued more in the recent degrees and an open question whose requirements are made to apply or the ftc followed the procedural requirements to apply new standards and whether the standard is consistent with constitutional protection of free speech. I would also like to welcome doctor oz today. The show debuted in 2009 which is roughly 3 Million Viewers every day. I look forward to hearing from doctor oz on what steps hes taking to ensure the information he shares in conversations he moderates provides accurate claims. We are informed doesnt endorse particular products and hes been the subject of a scrupulous entity using his image in advertising without his permission. However private transfer products and the spike after they are featured in his show. When the celebrity doctor mentioned the sales rose by 12000 and it rose by 42000 . It is this popularity that may have influenced the company to enter the markets and the green coffee bean extraction as referred to as a magic weightloss cure and a miracle pill that can burn fat fast. This company is now the subject of an enforcement action brought by the ftc and is currently pending. Depending the unfair deceptive claims with regards to this product. I would also like to welcome our other witnesses from the Better Business bureau mr. Stephen of the council for responsible electrician, mr. Rob and doctor daniel of the National Products association. Thank all of you for taking the time to be here today. Thank you madam chair for holding this hearing and i look forward to the testimony and answers to some of the questions michael did a great job of introducing everyone. Ms. Mary is the associate director of the advertising Practices Bureau of Consumer Protection at the federal trade commission here in washington. Doctor oz vice chairman and professor of surgery Columbia University college of the physicians anphysiciansand surge doctor oz show. The president and ceo of advertising selfregulatory Council Executive Vice President david copresident from new york. Mr. Stephen president and ceo of the council for responsible nutrition based in washington mr. Robert carol carols and in h executive director of trust and agriculture. Org and doctor daniel executiv executive direcd ceo of National Products association. And we will begin with your testimony. We will have you on a clock that im sure you understand. I know you understand about the clock. But we are not strict about that if you need to go over by a few minutes we will not have a problem. Keep in mind of the entiret thee testimony that you would like to sub it will be included in the official rug. Welcome. Good morning madam chair and members of the committee in the associate director for the practices of the federal trade commission and im pleased to have this opportunity to provide information regarding the ftc efforts to combat the fraudulent weightloss advertising. As you know, the United States is facing an obesity epidemic. Nearly 70 of u. S. Adults are overweight or obese. Weight and obesity are major contributors to chronic disease and Health Care Costs and present a serietopresent a seric health challenges. So it isnt surprising that there is a strong interest in the products that claim to promote weight loss. Unfortunately where there is a strong consumer interest, for often follows. In the ftc 2011 survey of Consumer Fraud count of more consumerout moreconsumers were f fraudulent weightloss products than any of the other specific fraud that we surveyed. Despite the boom in the industry there exists very little Scientific Evidence that pills and supplements alone can help a significant amount of weight. Scientists agree the foundation of the successful weight loss is to eat a healthful diet and increase activity. Products that promote fast and easy weight loss without changes to diet and lifestyle detoured them for making the tough but necessary changes. As it was mentioned a that the commission followed its first case we back in 1927 and since then we have another 250 cases challenging the unproven weightloss claims. The commission has brought 82 Law Enforcement actions challenging the false or unsubstantiated claims about the effectiveness of a wide variety of weightloss products and services. Since 2010 alone the commission has collected nearly 107 million of consumer aesthetician for deceptive weightloss claims. The Case Highlights how the agency has focused its enforcement priorities on Large National Advertising Campaigns for a creative range of weightloss products with unproven benefits. Operation failed resolution announced right after the new year and targeted the popular ingredients food additives, human hormones, skin creams and berries. In one resolution case the consumers were urged to shake their sensa and was 30, 40, 90 pounds or more without dieting or exercise in another consumers were urged to rub all made cream touted as having bodyslamming capabilities that could trim inches and weeks. And a third consumers would pay for the rare nitride liquid drops made from a diluted form of human hormones to lose a pound a day. Each of the cases resulted in a settlement with the ftc. The companies were ordered to pay for consumer redress and back any future weightloss claims with well conducted human clinical studies. Despite this history of ftc enforcement, weightloss fraud persists. This is because of an area that consumers are vulnerable and there is an enormous amount of money to be made and people intend will gravitate towards where the money is. Weve recently noted some disturbing developments that lead back to the weightloss advertising. First is the reliance on the proprietary studies using erroneous or fabricated data. This was in the case against sensa and the earlier case involving sketchers toning shoes. These add a layer of complexity to the weightloss investigation. The second trend is the appearance of weightloss and Mainstream Media supported by the trusted spokespeople. The pending case against the tv advertising shows how the marketers of the pure green coffee dietary supplement capitalized on doctor oz having featured the green coffee bean extract on the show and calling it magic and a miracle. When consumers see product ingredients marketed in a sophisticated way on respected Media Outlets or a hosed they trust it can be difficult to listen to their internal voices telling them to beware. That is why we have a Long Partnership with the media to screen the deceptive diet ads before they run. The recently issued a guide sent to Media Outlets throughout the country advising the media on seven weightloss claims experts say simply cannot be true and that the media should think twice about before running. Finally, we recognize that consumers are the first line of defense against weightloss fraud. The ftc has developed a full arsenal of consumer educational materials ranging from traditional publications that lathetraditional publications tt lay out the facts for consumers to online websites. And today we launched a new interactive Online Consumer quiz. I want to thank the committee for focusing attention on the weightloss and for givin forgie ftc and opportunity to describe the role. We may never eliminate the weightloss fraud we will continue the efforts to pursue the perpetrators and to educate the consumers that trusting their instincts can be a strong protective mechanism. Thank you and i would be happy to respond to any questions. Session, this hearing and for allowing me to testify. Consumer scams is and fraud related to Weight Loss Products are plagued me and my work educating the public since i first started in media long before my talk show launched in 2009. Its a problem that i have spent immeasurable time, energy, broadcast resources and money trying to combat. Im chagrined to say the problem has only increased, however, im encouraged that the u. S. Senate has decided to prioritize this criminal enterprise and believe the attention and contributions of other witnesses can help because we can together with our collective brain power douse the flames of this uncontrolled wildfire in the interest of protecting the consumer. After i finished my training in 1993, about a decade of training, by the way, i began practicing at Columbia University. As i performed thousands of surgeries on patients, i realized we needed to better educate people on how to take part in their own care, and i went into public life in an effort to teach. I started on the Oprah Winfrey show in 2004 and had my first experiences at that time. There wasnt anything special about my description, but immediately internet ads used pick pictures of us, show quotes claiming ms. Winfrey and i supported them. We filed a civil suit against the Companies Making these ads. Despite the expense and Law Enforcement cooperation, it had very little impact. Ten years later, were back. This phenomenon has grown dramatically, so that i am forced to defend my reputation every single day. These ads take money from trusting viewers, many of whom believe im actually selling the items. Just to be clear, i have never sold supplements. Ive taken a number of steps to protect myself and my viewers. The passionate language i use to describe something was fodder for these unethical advertisements. My show has tempered our editorial on promising supplements. We have been more stringent and have included to opposing voices. This, to my knowledge, has had no impact. Market beers are still able to marketers are still able to select a single phrase and continue profiting unimpeezed. The clip that you showed and others, if you look deeper into the shows, ill almost always mention that these are designed for shortterm support. You wont get there without diet and exercise. To go further, ive devoted numerous shows to covering the exact anatomy of how a scam works. Ive launched a campaign called its not me. I devote a portion of every single broad to look directly into the camera, its the last thing i say to the viewer, and tell them i dont see anything. If they see my name, any part of the show involved in an advertisement, do not buy the product. Any show you happen the wander on, youll see me saying that you will see me saying very end. We also created oz watch, to create violations and scams. It has thousands of complaints by reviewers. We have a private company to police the web and issued within 600 ceaseanddesist. After months of investigation paid for by a of investigation pay for brass i confronted an egregious advertiser of kenosha on michelin part because we found, this is the part that hurts become a senator mccaskill you senator mccaskill emission is not only stealing my name, he was providing 10 of the active ingredient. So whether it works or not is a separate issue. If you do not the product they cant do anything. By the way last night i went online and i was able to purchase a product if i wanted to. Its a fairly shameless series of perpetrators they were dealing with. Ive taken action on them without the assistance of state and federal agencies, but i believe working together we can achieve a lot more. Before offering any suggestions that i have a few, let me address the criticism. Im respectful. I encourage searching for answers. We address with us because as you mentioned affects two thirds of the population. The only message i gave was to be blessed with more comal which is the most important thing people need to do. There wouldnt be a challenge because viewers know these tips and still struggle so Research Virtual to crotches for shortterm supports people can jumpstart their programs. Please see alternative solutions commonly used in other countries in other parts of the world and the subcontinent of india. We feature cleanses a new diet programs by promising authors read many of these are controversial as our Supplementary Research and profile. I would rather have a conversation on my stage than in back alleys. The conversation would give viewers the boost to engage in what is dietary choices. Todays not a referendum. We are not here to decide if either supplements make sense. The probably been invited to discuss internet scam and fraud bull have jurisdiction over scammers simplified enforcement in a publicprivate cooperative effort is undertaken a nurse that includes everyone on the panel in front of us including the ftc legitimate product binge fractures can add us to services and media outlook at mine. I need to be a part of this. I feel passionate about doing this and i want to play a role. Since i tend to him i will not cover the suggestions, but i would like to offer some played around about how to create a quick reference registry, emphasize whistleblowers and privacy are funded bounty to assist the ftc in the difficult challenging task. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. I appreciate the opportunity to testify on the ongoing work of the Advertising Industry selfregulatory system are particularly as it applies to wait advertising. This is created in 1971 by the nations trade associations and cooperation with the council of Better Business euros needed since the family pioneered a rigorous further selfregulation that is impartial, administered by the council of Better Business bureaus that is comprehensive and applies to our National Advertisers in all media in its transparent. All of our decisions are properly reported and its effect is. Companies do not participate in the process or dont follow the recommendations are probably referred to the appropriate Government Agency cover usually the federal trade commission. We work on a casebycase basis actively monitoring advertising for questionable claims and practices that we apply ftc types dinners to those claims. Each year we issued almost 200 decision on a wide variety of advertising issues including about a dozen last year that address advertising of weightloss claims that required companies to stop or modify the ads in question. Selfregulatory cranes her weightloss products include issues ranging from technical easy to remedy disclosure questions to questions about the validity and complex underlines studies that support the advertisers claim. For example, one recent nad decision address advertising for a product called her cienega bush a including claims clinically proven to promote four times more with us in diet and exercise. Some cranes contained a special report on how to lose 20 pounds in one month with two healing programs recommended by dr. Oz. Other claims cited results of specific studies that support the weightloss claims. In this case the advertiser told us that special report that i referred to earlier his posted by an Unauthorized Third Party in the advertiser immediately take steps to take the report of the internet. The nad determines the remaining specific performance claims and ingredients claim should be discontinued in their current form. He advertiser fully cooperated with review and agree to discontinue claims as to about 90 of the companies that participate in the process. We have a very similar case with one of the other ingredients popular in this area, raspberry teton. Our case complement that of the Better Business bureau system. Bbv handle hundreds of advertiser cases including claims associated with s. Products and services. Bbv works to resolve complaints about Business Practices and are uniquely positioned to identify local and National Scams as they emerge and warn consumers about them. A major outlet and we have 100 Better Business bureaus located around the country. Last year the Better Business bureau had thousands of complaints about Weight Loss Products and Services Including a growing number of complaints about weight loss clinics. Bbv are also associated with problematic billing practices and auto shift programs underscoring the adage that misleading weightloss claims frequently like only the consumers wallet. These Overall Results are consistent with those observed by our st. Louis bbb reserves eastern missouri and Southern Illinois except to say at the to say at the list this not been the rise in the number of weightloss clinic at that particular jurisdiction. Selfregulation works only if it has the support of the industry and the government in the areas of weightloss, to associations in particular. The Electronic Retailing Association council for nutrition have set forward to survive is no attached funding that allows us to do our impartial monitoring and decisionmaking work. Similarly, although no formal relationship between the advertising selfregulation process and the government, decades by the federal trade commission in the success of the process. Although there have been significant efforts by the federal and State Government to control unsubstantiated claims, more can be done obviously. One thing everybody agrees on is the type of state and federal enforcement action to the ftc has been bringing our credit zero to control in this type of advertising. In addition, trade associations include representatives of weightloss Industries Need to follow the example set by the Electronic Retailing Association and responsible nutrition and step up and supporting regulatory monitoring in the marketplace good for businesses, good for consumers. Finally, the ftcs renewed effort to enlist consistent support of the media and the most egregious weightloss claims is a key stat. Network broadcasters for example have fairly sophisticated processes for network ads and similarly the new media, google has introduced a new approach to add screening tailored to that specific new media. But there are lots of other media outlet, independent channels, cable television, cable satellite radio and radio not giving us much. Finally i would close up an anecdote. Just this weekend i got a spam email. It was for a product called for schooling. Is that if i took a product i would never have to diet again and when i went on the internet with google alerts, the return address was for a p. O. Box. So it was sort of a regulatory trackback data. It is a spam email for no one to substantiate resellers nobody could find. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Mister. Good morning. My name is Steven Mister and president and ceo for the council for responsible nutrition. The League Association representing manufacturers of Dietary Supplements, functional foods and nutritional agreements. Reemphasizes Many Americans who honor false with everything from rubber bracelets to sprays and cranes and exercise gadgets and yes i is very supplements. Collectively americans spend over 40 billion here trying to lose weight. The Nutrition Business journal reports the dietary supplement and the replacements formulated for weightloss ari 5. 3 billion here in the street from a small fraction of the total but a significant son nevertheless. He for the committee throws the baby out with the bathwater, want to be clear there are a number of dietary ingredients used in weightloss supplements when combined with moderate exercise programs and sensible eating that have been shown and wellconnected Clinical Trials to be safe and beneficial for Weight Management. The dietary supplement requires all supplements must have substantiation for claims and that includes claims. The labeling establish a detailed approach for what constitutes the substantiation for the structure function claims requires the claims be supported by wellconnected human trials for statistically significant benefits. Along with the consumers who were duped by these claims, the responsible industry who complies with the standards also stands to lose when we mislaid unsupported add that im here today to really force the commitment of members to help address the scams and frauds in the weight loss market place. Unfortunately the reality of the current weightloss market is that it is a tale of two industries. Legitimate manufacturers to responsibly produce products that work can make claims for the products within the bounds of the law and on the other hand the unscrupulous players who prey on consumer desperation in their insatiable desire to be and will say almost anything to make a quick profit. The federal trade commission has the authority to enforce the prohibition on false come and on false commands laden and deceptive claims in the advertising of witless products in the crn has publicly supported and will continue to applaud the numerous Enforcement Actions brought by the ftc in recent years of the more than 438 million in restitution and Civil Penalties assessed by advertising with respect to weightloss products since 2004. Enforcement sweeps like the ftcs operation waistline and more recently failed resolution and its Media Awareness Campaign hoped to remove claims, but they also alert the public was sending a message of deterrence to the industry and we applaud them for that. However, the reality is in this internet age along with the proliferation of cable television, talk radio, various online edi and the increasing pressures for ad revenue among shrinking print media, both the ftc and the fta have insufficient resources to combat the number of deceptive claims in the market. Some Media Outlets eager to accept advertising dollars that clearly violates the law and to see his consumers. 2006 crn began selfregulatory program with the nad receiver to help self police the advertising claims of dietary supplement marketers. Crn has committed over 2 million to underwrite the program which is already investigated almost 200 challenges of the claims made by supplement marketers, many of which involve witless products. Im proud of the track record of this program for providing fair of a thoughtful and transparent decisions for achieving a high rate of industry participation in the precedent that assesses these decisions to deter fraudulent claims. Members are committed to manufacturing and marketing highquality beneficial product into insurer can members receive truth will come accurate on supplement nutritional products. We believe the challenge for legitimate weightloss products is essentially this. American consumers unrealistically yearn for a magic wallet and unscrupulous marketers who will take advantage of these desires with thomases. Like a successful weightloss program, the solutions to this nrdc. Significant sanction include increasing resources and priorities for enforcement of the existing legal requirements by about the ftc and the fda expanding and strengthening self policing programs among manufacturers and marketers in the industry like our initiative and calling on Media Outlets and retailers to conduct their own advertising clearance before accepting nasas claims that are illegal and simply too good to deter the end finally educating consumers to be realistic about the weightloss strategies and their expectations to make them less vulnerable to the register and unsupported claims. Thank you for the opportunity to share our views with the committee. Chairman mccaskill, ranking number halloran superstars of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify about trust and addon door, to combat fraudulent advertising for weightloss products. My name is Rob Harrelson and im the executive director. And the testimony i will highlight our Member Companies there incentivize to keep baghdads out of our systems. I was about how they invest resources in the area and a party removed millions of baghdad for the services. Dressed in ads. Org includes internet Industry Leaders any a while, facebook, google, twitter and yahoo . They founded the organization to Work Together towards a common goal, protect people from malicious online at the deceptive practices. With the effort we bring awareness to consumers about online ad related scams, working collaboratively to identify trends and deceptive ads to and best practices in sharing our knowledge of policymaker is and consumer advocates around the country. It offers guidance to consumers on our bad as trends report. These are consumer friendly reports that examine a specific trend or trends we are seen and provide specific examples of bad ads and Websites Companies have removed for the platforms. We highlight the steps that companies have taken to combat the problem and give consumers useful tips on how to make good choices online. Website includes a dedicated page for people can go to learn how to easily report a suspicious ad on any of our Member Companies websites. Our first report released and made detailed ads for tech support services. Yesterday we released her newest report on fraudulent ads related to weightloss products and Dietary Supplements. The Member Companies of allocated significant resources to keep ads off the platforms without question ensuring a positive User Experience for all users is essential to maintaining a vibrant internet ecosystem. Today the sale of numerous weightloss products and Dietary Supplements are advertising across on media, print, broadcast radio and the web and while most entities selling these products provide accurate and truthful information regarding the overall effectiveness, some bad actors in an attempt to entice consumers to market products with outrageous claims and promises dramatic weight loss. The bad actors use online advertising. These claims violate both the Members Companies and advertising policies and existing laws aimed at protecting consumers. We applaud agencies for recognizing the weightloss camp problem in iraq vespers to educate consumers about misleading claims. In addition to scammers, the ftcs consumer permission website has an entire section devoted to weightloss and fitness that outlines many advertisements that users could encounter on the internet and other places and debunk their claims. The ads were critical Advertising Companies as well collectively Member Companies have hundreds of individuals on the respective teams spanning policy engineering, Network Security that are dedicated to identifying and preventing illegal activity. Fortunately most of these types of ads never reach the user and are immediately rejected to automated filtering processes as soon as submitted. For those that are detected after published, they are immediately removed and temporary expansion with the severity of the policy violations. User feedback plays an Important Role and our companies carefully review user complaints relate to ads and quickly take action unwarranted. Over the course of the past 18 months, aol, google, facebook, twitter and yahoo have removed or projected over 2. 5 million ads related to weightloss and Dietary Supplements due to numerous bad policy violations. While stakeholders are working hard to stop these ads come away by scammers, some who are incredibly sophisticated work maliciously to find ways to avoid detection by agencies falling within their guidelines and circumvent their Companies Automated filters. Working together, aol, facebook, google, twitter and yahoo are committed to improving systems to help protect users across the web. We believe if we all Work Together to identify threats, we can make the web a safer place for everyone. Again, thank you for the opportunity to testify. Thank you, mr. Haralson. Dr. Fabricant. Thank you, madam chair, members of the committee to participate. I am dr. Dana fabricant, director of the National Product association revealed as the largest trade association in the industry. We represent thousands of retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of houses, Dietary Supplements, personal care the millions of americans you supplements each year. Of the members are household names, most are Small Business owners come in many women out who got in the business to help people live truly healthier lives. Our first rule to customers as wealth with your Health Care Provider in the dietary supplement part of a broader healthier lifestyle that includes diet and exercise. Madam chair, remembers fully support efforts to combat fraud and rules and regulations of federal government has to protect tumors. Deceptive advertising is illegal and should not be tolerated. Like you were especially concerned about fraud on the internet. Our association is one of a brickandmortar retailers not internet only for flybynight firms. So theres no public trust is one of the vagaries of Natural Products are in high demand. No one has more than interested we do not thought that i members because data is only tarnished with integrity. To support ftc, npa has its own policing program where members report personal ad win so bad as to be disciplined. Numbers are empowered to follow the rules agrees to questionable claims. If you see something, Say Something. Under truth in advertising program, claims are reviewed by a committee of attorneys to determine if there were over the line that we take actions. The first is to really ceaseanddesist letter to a company. Ive attached my testimony. The second is to refer cases potentially fraudulent advertising. Since we began in 2010 it resulted in 446 letters to such firms. Of those 320th knowledge you should submit collections. We are submitted to fda and ftc over that period of time so we have a Strong Partnership with the regulatory agencies but we depend on federal authorities will receive positive action, we see consideration. Weve heard about existing enforcement authorities. My former job was to programs used in the existing tools that manage to recall, administrative attention injunction of seizures for firms were said in his first guy to meet minimal quality standards and disease claims. Ftc is taking substantial actions against firms that deceive consumers with regard to weightloss. Npa fully supports efforts to demonstrate the implement of the current authorities but were still wrestling with internet advertising today in a fly at night issues to where we would does. We believe ftc should consider using authorities on the financial before agile and as for mary to companies without regard to their revenues. More aggressive enforcement of the socalled flybynight needs to be just as important to the ftc is largescale enforcement against larger revenue firms. Ftc in conjunction with the department of justice concurrently as misdemeanor prosecutions and assess penalties for those under consent orders for those who violate other laws. However we dont see much use of these tools. It also appears by regulators to pursue retracted cases at the expense of great mature muscle against companies of any size or revenue stream. If ftc does not take them fly by night from the front end early in the game, more will be tempted to get into the game. Lastly we support the ftcs mission we are concerned with the recent development to consent orders his consent orders are case specific and not meant to be applied industrywide. However, we see evidence that cadaver negative outcomes for consumers with a cost perspective and the quality and quantity of information about the Product Available to them. The statutory interpretation this consent orders the consent orders the general act probity and its not beneficial to anyone and particularly consumers. One example would be ftc is a requirement that additional studies and research are necessary prior to advertising like a requirement to connect to doubleblind controlled trial studies to support structure function statements which is not a current legal or statutory requirement. This is not only outside of the statue believes to inefficient use of resources which could chill innovation and incentivize the Research Needed to substantiate claims. This is also happening on behalf of consumers or the economy. As such standards applied generally to investing in the required study wellcontrolled means that the competent standard would he prohibited from sharing information for consumers. This results in less Information Available to consumers, not more and changes the rules in the middle of the game. This is a concern for members and a bridge protected speech could constitute a violation of the apa are present possible First Amendment issues. We would like to work with others to address the turns and help improve the worst regime in ultimately protect consumers while giving them access to information they need. Adam chair, thank you for holding the hearing. Ray, thank you gabriel have questions that we have votes that began in a little less than an hour. Hopefully well have an opportunity to have the least to answer questions. I cant figure this out, dr. Oz. I get that you do a lot of good adger shows. On your show. I understand you get a lot of great information about and you do it in do it in a way that is easily understandable. You are talented, obviously very bright. You can train sciencebased medicine. Now here is three statements he made on your show. You may think magic is makebelieve, but this little bean has Scientists Saying they made the magic weight loss cure for every body type. Its great coffee extract. Quote, ive got the numberone miracle in a bottle to burden her. Its raspberry ketones. Quote, garcinia come bushy, you may be the simple solution youve been looking for to best your body for good. I dont get why you need to say this stuff because you know what is not true. So why when you had this amazing megaphone and this amazing ability to communicate, why would you cheapen your show by saying eggs like that . Be that well, if i could disagree about whether they work or not and i will go far to the issue of the words that i use. With regards to whether they work or not, the great coffee bean extract as an example, i will not argue would pass fda was a pharmaceutical drug seeking approval. But among the Natural Products that are out there, this is a product that has several Clinical Trials and one irish one, good quality one of the year we talked about this in 2012. I want them to know about the Clinical Trial because youll trial because still the one i know 16 people in india that is paid for by the company that was in fact at the appointed time you initially talked about this being a miracle, the only study out there was the one with 16 people in india that was written up by somebody being paid by the company producing it. Is argued that was paid for it. I have the four papers, five papers on it as well. Worth trying or not worth trying many of the things we argue with your diet, i spent a good part of my career recommending that folks have a lowfat diet. I no longer recommend that, many of us, because we realized it wasnt working for our patients. So it is remarkably complex, as you know, to figure out what works for most people even in a dietary program. And in the practice of medicine we involve by looking at i new ideas, challenging orthodoxy and evolving them. So when i hold, these are the five papers, these are clinical papers. And we can argue about the quality of them very justifiably, i could pick apart papers that showed no weapon fit as well. But at the end of the day, i have clinical summits, real people having undergone trials. And in this case i actually gave it to members of my audience which wouldnt pass, the trial you did with your audience, you would never say that passed scientific muster. No. That wasnt the purpose of it. The purpose was for me to get a thumbnail sketch, was this worth talking to people about or not . But again, i dont think this ought to be a referendum on the use of alternative medical therapies because that thats if thats the case, ive been criticized if or having folks come on my show about the power of prayer. I cant prove be prayer helps people its hard to buy prayer. Thats the difference. Prayers free. Yes, prayers free, and people thats a very good point. [laughter] thankfully, prayers free. But i see in the hospital when folks are feeling discomfort in their life and a lot of its emotional, when they have people praying for them, it lightens their burden. So my show was about hope. And as you very kindly stated, weve engaged millions of people in programs to get folks to realize there are different ways that they can rethink their future. That their best years arent behind them, theyre in front of them. They actually can lose weight. If i could just get across the message that i do personally believe in the items i talk about in the show. I passionately study them. I recognize up times they dont have the scientific muster to present as fact, but never the less, i would give hi audience the my audience the advice i give my family all time, then im comfortable with that part. I do think ive made it more difficult for the ftc is that in an intent to engage viewers, i use flowery language that ended up being not helpful, but incendiary, and it provided fodder for up scrupulous advertisers. So that clip that you played, which is over two years old and aye done hundreds of segments since then, we have specifically restricted our use of words. Im literally not speaking about things i would not otherwise talk about. Theres a product i feel be very strongly because i know what will happen. I will Say Something very in fact, we did a show, there was a south american root that had a big study published on it, i think a very high quality study where they showed not only did it help people with their weight, but more importantly, helped with their health. It was not funded by industry. And we talked about it, and i used as careful language as i could, and still there were internet scam ads picking one or two supportive words. Of course i support it, i wouldnt be talking abt it otherwis listened for client surprised you are defending the Scientific Community is monolithic against you in terms of the efficacy of the three products that you call a miracle. When it is something you can buy and gives false hope but not under state and why you need to go there. You have so much that you do when your show to make it controversially enough i a understand you are in the business to get viewers but i implore you to look. Would ask you to look at the seven lists the ftc put out on the gut check. It is because this weightloss without dieting or exercise, causes substantially lost no matter how much she edt and causes permanent weightloss combust your body fat. Look at those seven and if you spend time on your show telling people is a the seven things that you should know it is not magic in a bottle or how much berry it will all this said didnt make it not matter that you are not moving and eating a lot of sugar and carbohydrates. Do you disagree . Senator i know the seven i say those all the time. Why would you say it is a miracle in a bottle . My job is to be a cheerleader for the audience when they dont think they can make it happen i looked at alternative healing traditions of any evidence that may be supportive talk about green tree extract with the information i have i am still comfortable telling if you can by reputable version and i say this all the time, i dont sell it and not long term use action is 1 pound per week over the trials. That is the same wage lost by 100 people on the show than half of them got a placebo and it is the same thumbnail if you can lose 1 pound to one week more doing what you should be doing already. But if that is predicting your life the and you get a few pounds a jump start is to give you confidence then you follow the things we talked about every day. It makes sense. And will give time to my colleagues now hopefully we can visit with other witnesses but i will tell you that i know you feel you are a victim. Sometimes conduct is by that you being a victim if you were more careful we will not be victimized so frequently. Those topics are over two years all i have not been talking about a product in that way for over two years and has not changed at all. In fact, it is getting worse and so i skied your commentary in the realize that is why i came today. Eyes of a group of students outside they all knew who you were. Clearly their parents or someone watch your show and pay attention. To believe there is a miracle pill out there . Senate there will not be a pill to live your best life and lose weight without dieting and exercise. Is there a magic way lost your . , and dash cure. You are selling something because it is magical budget it will be magic because issues stop eating carbos they will lose weight. What works for most people . But it is based on real food the air with some physical activity. Most weight loss is about the food choices you make. Game you do not endorse any products or receive any money . That is true. Face stopped advertisers to use your name and likeness can you address online advertisements. What would you like to see done . Private sector could help by putting a quick reference registry that are legitimate lee listed to products. With the list of celebrities goes on if we made a list it would make it easier we also have a whistleblower systems for Workplace Safety i think on his employees deserve compensation and we should incentivize whistleblowers. There were people who worked who knew what they were doing was wrong. Answered, we could create private sector funded bounty to help with getting bounty hunters to engage than we would love to do whatever we can and to shut down the skimmers. End funded by the private sector. Mr. Haralson what is your organization doing to stop these people from putting ads on websites that are less than truthful . As i pointed out in my testimony we are deeply incentivize to make sure that advertisements stay off of platform. It is imperative to make sure that the internet economy survives. Plainly do, our companies have very sophisticated automated filtering systems to look for this kind of stuff end long before there seen by users and but we do see bad advertisement say arthur immediately removed and action taken and when warranted. Thank you for holding this hearing and yesterday i looked up the topselling weightloss product on amazon even with the ftc actions against the green coffee is still a product in the top 20 selling products the rest are related products in others create of fake web site that seems to be a Womans Health magazine did you talk about the side effects . I know you have been questioned at length you do not make the disclaims any more, but what do you talk about the side effects . And the deceptive practices how you conduct your show . Dive brought transcripts. Age as an expert talk about the products to review pluses and minuses and i wish they just played another 30 seconds. So i will Say Something for everyone to hear a do not sell it i do not make money and will not mention a brand of either. I bring that up elsewhere i talk specifically that if you dont exercise and diet at the same time it will not work. Is a pill. Dont go home thinking it is just a pill. And with the healthy lifestyle. It is not the language that this senators criticizing me for but i never tell them go where to go to buy the product i felt in my own mind if i talked about specific companies it was seem like i was supporting those companies. I have never given the audience see an idea where to buy it. That opened a huge market for folks to take stuff and use my name to try to sell. I left the audience hanging thinking i was doing the ethical thing if i called it a miracle, not every day for the rest of your life but it is miraculously dont know about if i said go to these four companies products it would have killed us off. I thought it was commercial. A doctor should not sell product. You would not trust me if you came to me for advice and i said take my version. Does not seem right to me. In the internet age with the bricks and mortar approach does not work i should have been savvies enough to say here are the companies i trust there will not scam you if i say it helps you lose 1 pound a week for eight weeks which is what the trial says ben sun changes of 40 pounds in three weeks you can only do that through the amputation and then all of a sudden it is like i said those things. This is a huge problem for may partly why i came todays. I have seen these and theyre very seductive when you try to figure out the best diet plan. You have two choices either you dont talk about these things at all that are susceptible or you have to be more specific because you are not the only celebrity that had this happen to them. So i go back whether or not you thank you have enough resources . Would you think of teeeighteen idea to not be focused on fly by night from dr. Fabricant . The ftc does put a lot of resources behind the enforcement efforts we do pursue fly by night companies in more established companies. From the green tea coffee is a fly by Night Company we also pursued 11 Different Companies selling acai berry weightloss threat fake web site and affiliate marketing in addition to some other established companies. Lead to look across the board there are a lot of players. The cases can be time intensive to investigate. Will look at the studies very carefully and hire experts often defendants will hire experts we pay close attention because we want to be sure what the science is if the claims are substantiated. Said cases are time intensive but we try to bring as many as possible to get as much back for consumers as we can. Should there be more fda regulation and . I know we have had the votes in this area. I cannot speak for the fda but i understand they have their hands will cahan with the Dietary Supplements have taken actions against Weight Loss Products and have prescription drugs and put their resources there. Do we need a bigger approach rather than looking at a celebrity list or false advertisements or people relying on claims that are not true . It would be helpful for the approach taken it is quite helpful. The media could do a better job to screen out the false claims and we are hopeful of bbb will disseminate to get the message across to help eliminate that adds. Not mrs. Engle taking action against companies what about the media outlet . You all have never gone there. Talk about that. Is that the approach you have considered the you have authority to do . If you have a media outlet that is not using or is using fraudulent advertising so those issues if we attempt section and 12 does give authority to first do any entity for a misleading food toward drug device or cosmetic. The we thought it would make more sense to work with the media voluntarily. There was the reinsurance back from 2003. Need had good success at that time to get them to stop running ads containing running these claims for it makes more sense to work voluntarily with the media. Use said is the media have done a sophisticated job to screen the who was doing a good job here . It is largely buried by the size of the media but the National Broadcast media had screening programs they would not see the ads you show today of the National Advertising part. But the National Broadcasting companies a lot of the cable stations that these ads appear on. Same ownership. Banned the screening done for the affiliates for the cable channels very hand if you get down to smaller media, radio is a good example is local the advertising staff is pretty small and that is like what the ftc has done even the small media could just sit and look to say yes for this and know for that a claim that you never have to die it again we should not get onto the media all. Sent radio is all over satellite that you are exactly right the Industry Needs to catch up. Is a you just waited for me to say satellite radio . [laughter] there are two things to look at. Line is a traditional one that the broadcast networks do to translate thats to the new media to look at these claims. And that is for real progress. Talk about the of fly by night to that you can manufacture something of finding the post office box is very responsible and complicated though in this road with technology with the it addresses. What kind of resources and might you need to do a better job of the fly by night . When you see an ad on the internet the first thing figure out who is behind an ad and it is not easy to do. So some company will work a the affiliates there is so whole post of companies placing ads that use the and then when trip to a flat to belly one little trick the consumer clinics on that if they buy the products said the affiliate gets paid for that is not the company that sells it there is another Company Behind that and requires multiple rounds of subpoenas to figure out who is behind this. And it takes a significant amount of resources to subpoena this information but it is time consuming. Have you gone after the middle man . The affiliates that years talk about that move as around the internet and they are a conduit to the actual product . Have you taken action against those to get rid of your belly fat . To make yes. Plan have gone after larger affiliates but you never know how bay the company is sometimes made to the rafter the larger eiffel it to fill the it. And senator the bbb system was 100 offices around the country get 1 million complaints and provide the service to go and check what types of complaints they are getting and very often these claims are accompanied by bad refund policies negative option shipping policies, even if the st. Louis perot had one of these just billing randomly for the product. So they will go to the web site to check and to help protect us. I want to know about your recent consent orders for operation failed resolution. The ftc is now barring defendants from making certain claims unless they have to add a quick human clinical studies. Is that accurate . Yes they are required to have studies to support claims going for word. They also try to apply that elsewhere . Even though there is current guidelines in the agency knowing if Scientific Evidence exists to is of flexible inquiry. You have conflicts . So you apply the new standard elsewhere . Is there a conflict you tried to enforce . The base said lot is a reasonable basis for the advertising claims and those that promise Health Benefits and as Scientific Evidence and what constitutes evidence will vary depending on the claim. One that will treat cancer has a higher level of the and the claim with smooth the driveway skean. The randomized controlled clinical studies to substantiate the claim will cause whale was. I am not saying if we had one study on we lost to say its not substantiated will bring forward a step to studies they deny any aid to the long term and given the level of pride it is important to have the assurance of a second study that this is the real results not due to a fluke or a bias in the study. Talk about the dietary supplement guidelines. Even though they appear to be inconsistent with the current stance of our accomplishments reliable evidence. Do you see it that way. And the of full range that would be made for them and when we are is in the context of a specific investigation may know what claims are made for them and we have a record on which to base substantiation for claims going for words to make any intentions to modify those guidelines it . There has been some discussion. 13 years old if they need to be freshened up but there is not a conflict between at and our orders of. And to return to about the work you are doing just looking at my twitter accounting and ic for of these how many cups of coffee i can drink to lose 2 pounds and various other sayings. Your Member Companies permanently suspend count accounts depend on the severity of the violation and. Debt what does that mean . Or their temporary suspensions and how to handle that . Every company has different approaches and policies in place. However it depends on the severity of the violation but there are options the Member Companies may work with the advertiser to make sure there is in compliance and there is an option to remove those ads a of the third option for egregious violations. But interestingly enough enough, some of these sophisticated skimmers will try a to do old bid new accounts so it becomes a capped and mouse game. So to target those from verbal populations . You think maurer with online they think it is a personal message to them. Rethink these types of schemes attracted to the largest constituency whether weightloss or hair loss of a think we see these across the of board. What about the protection of data for collection will think it is an interesting way for to use a self motivation to get yourself to exercise. To make sure does not fall into the hands of skimmers skimmers. Like the device that is on your wrist, can you repeat the question . It is mower going on my people enter things just like other things has there been an effort to have you could protect that data . To my knowledge i dont think showers are collecting thirdparty data to help related devices. It is another issue of popup ads but some are collecting a because you get popup ads related to that. There is a farley fairly bride coalition the digital wireless looking of the question of collection of data but the organization was formed at the request of the ftc to look those issues that is special restrictions and is under development and that is a tricky issues people are on board where if there has been formed. To use sick of all the new money since 60s adult obesity has more than doubled. Some diets are legitimate what bothers me at the core we saw a leveling down for the increase of obesity having to do with the work of the first lady and the School Lunch Programs but that is another topic. What do you think we should be doing to get people to spend their money on what works and what doesnt . We have a problem and people spend more and more money and gain more and more weight. That is precisely for those that sell and market products that sell products people say you start sweating why you watch the added is very clear to have us dedicated regime and a stick with it. They lose sales to the fraudulent products. Why would i exercise for 45 minutes if i could just take up bill . But that is why i go back and the selfregulatory programs to supplement the resources because what we see when we contact to the advertiser and do a fairly quickly it they say we change the claim. But that if you were cases that they have to deal with. One thing that makes it difficult it is not illegal to sell these products. What is a legal is under false claims so for our companies the claims that are fraudulent and makes it difficult to substantiate good advertisers through bad advertisers because the sophistication the language that they used to circumvent our system to be used online. Understood. It means we need more standard Sand Resources and we appreciate your efforts. Think you. Thank you. Dr. Oz i want to pursue a question that senator, which are raised. I understand that is not your policy to support any particular brand and you said now that was a mistake so i am wondering would you consider creating a master list of brands that would be helpful because after all that would be helpful if you created a master list of brands you feel do work and are helpful . I would love to do that and speaking to people i trusted in the industry my best estimates which is 80 percent of the products made by 20 percent of the companies are highquality products by people who really do their homework and are audited in many ways. 20 are made by a lot of the companys better not that good. Fly by night quality issues are of a major concern. The of post office box is the good example i busted these people in san diego it was the post office box you could never find anybody. I have been actively looking at that and with your support i think i will and it will drain the swamp we have created around this area. I witting courage that is very important because as you know, i was attorney general for 20 years and have done a lot of work and this area as if it sounds like they are most susceptible or vulnerable to misleading false pitches it is this because the hopes are so high and the needs are so great to. I introduced a measure to register their products with the fda with their ingredients on a product and this is crucial to provide the information regarding Dietary Supplements and as you suggested a master list of celebrity endorsements to identify violators for Dietary Supplements that could cause is adverse effects whether your thoughts. Some of days supplements that are a signatory raise great concerns for me there often adulterated even though they claim they dont work that way it is a proven way for weightloss if you put amphetamine type of product it will work but it was just too great for the population to tolerate. So we lost a baby and helpful . It is proving to that is why the fda pulled them off the product. We are getting closer to having fdaapproved drugs we have had very few for many years as we get better prescription products then more medicine will turn in that direction. But the very basic techniques do we have very accurate surgery . People dont want to go that far even if you are overweight it is the same as if you have cancer is more desperate people looking for solutions. I strongly support the need whether the products are safe or not end to give people ideas to jumpstart way back. Would ftc fined that list helpful . They have not taken up position that i think it could be helpful to fda and provide consumers with useful information. Thank you for being here and for your great work. Want to briefly follow up and make sure i appreciate dr. Oz we have covered a lot of ground and a significant part was an association and those previous products rate couple of years ago but three weeks ago three weeks ago that it literally fleshes fat from your system every time you cheat on your diagrams one of these tiny bills the tablet can push a lot of fat out of your belly. People led to believe they can take of it is the biggie pill and they want to believe that. Every time you cheat on your diet taking a walk it would eliminate the problem that is that the roots of the hearing today. And frankly being threatened by a notion that anybody can take a pill to flesh that out of their system. In january you said lightning in a bottle. And the a marrow cauliflower. That was just january. I really hope the my know you know, how much how are you have. I know you know, that. You are very powerful and that comes with a great deal of responsibility. I know you take it seriously and do care with your viewing audience and about Americas Health and your made an example of today because of the how are you have if. We did not call the hearing to be tough on you but to talk about a real crisis and Consumer Protection and an end you can either be part of the police or part of the problem and were hopefully will do a better job to be a part of the police. I a came here because it wants to be part of the solution. You just mentioned a fiber when taken correctly it has been very effective tool for way loss for the reason i stated. Your comments about the language i use it as well heard and i appreciate it. Hosted a daytime Television Show where i feel the need to bring passion to peoples lives in an very respectful of the fact when it is used and has been used to defraud people it is harmful. I appreciate your kind words about the power i have. I secondguess every word i use right now. Fpx is used by family and i do think it is important if