{"id":5391,"date":"2011-09-30T07:05:57","date_gmt":"2011-09-30T05:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.ultimatefatburner.com\/?p=5391"},"modified":"2015-03-09T12:41:54","modified_gmt":"2015-03-09T16:41:54","slug":"reebok-pay-25-million-deceptive-advertising","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ultimatefatburner.com\/ufb-blog\/reebok-pay-25-million-deceptive-advertising\/","title":{"rendered":"Reebok to pay $25 Million For Deceptive Advertising"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yup: thanks to the FTC, Reebok’s on the hook for a cool $25 mil in customer refunds. Suffice it to say, the agency took a dim view of\u00a0\u00a0Reebok’s claims\u00a0for\u00a0its “EasyTone” and “RunTone” shoes.<\/p>\n

According to the FTC complaint<\/a>, Reebok made unsupported claims in advertisements that walking in its EasyTone shoes and running in its RunTone running shoes strengthen and tone key leg and buttock (gluteus maximus) muscles more than regular shoes. The FTC\u2019s complaint also alleges that Reebok falsely claimed that walking in EasyTone footwear had been proven to lead to 28 percent more strength and tone in the buttock muscles, 11 percent more strength and tone in the hamstring muscles, and 11 percent more strength and tone in the calf muscles than regular walking shoes.<\/p>\n

Beginning in early 2009, Reebok made its claims through print, television, and Internet advertisements, the FTC alleged. The claims also appeared on shoe boxes and displays in retail stores. One television ad featured a very fit woman explaining to an audience the benefits of Reebok EasyTone toning shoes. She picks up a shoe from a display and points to a chart showing the muscles that benefit from use of the shoes, while a video camera continues to focus on her buttocks. She says the shoes are proven to strengthen hamstrings and calves by up to 11 percent, and that they tone the buttocks \u201cup to 28 percent more than regular sneakers, just by walking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the settlement, Reebok is barred from:<\/p>\n