National Advertising Division alerts FTC to company’s melatonin advertising claims

Photo © AdobeStock.com/JEGAS RA

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs has referred an advertising-claims case to the FTC to review. The claims were made by PDC Brands’ Dr. Teal’s brand for its adult and kids’ melatonin products.

Market competitor The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) initially referred the case to the NAD for review, stating that the Dr. Teal’s product claims are “unsupported and misled consumers into believing that they deliver melatonin-derived sleep benefits that consumers have become familiar with (i.e., helping them and/or their children fall asleep and stay asleep),” states an NAD press release.

According to the press release, when contacted by the NAD over its claims, the Dr. Teal’s brand said that its advertising does not attribute any specific health benefits to the melatonin ingredients in its products, which include topical products like a sleep balm, body lotion, “sleep spray,” bath soak, body balm, and a combination bubble bath, body wash, and shampoo.

In the press release, NAD lists some of the brand’s advertising claims referred to the FTC, including “Just spritz pillows and bedding with the Sleep Spray and rub the Sleep Balm on their back, chest, or feet. They’ll be dreaming in no time.” Another claim states: “The secret to a good night’s rest is Dr. Teal’s Sleep Lotion with Melatonin and Essential Oils.”

NAD says the brand’s owner, PDC Brands, declined to participate in NAD’s self-regulatory process, so NAD in turn referred the matter to FTC “for review and possible enforcement action,” the release states.