It's A Fraud!!!
Filed under: Legal Matters
Airborne is shit!!!! The company has just settled a class action lawsuit for $23 million!!!!
"There's no credible evidence that what's in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment," David Schardt, a nutritionist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in a written statement this week. "Airborne is basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that's been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed."
We feel lied to!!!!!
The herbal supplement of vitamins and minz was created back in 1999 with the intent of helping to fight off colds.
It was invented by Victoria Knight-McDowell, a second-grade teacher who according to the product's site, "studied the benefits herbal therapies used in Eastern Medicine." The company also claimed it "boosts the immune system with seven herbal extracts and a proprietary blend of vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants."
Back in March 2006, after an ABC News report revealed that the company's clinical trials were not conducted by doctors or even scientists, Airborne changed their advertising campaign when a plaintiff filed suit against them.
Turns out the "clinical trials" were just conducted by two random individuals!
Shortly after, advertisements for Airborne stopped mentioning the clinical studies and the cold-curing claims. Instead, Airborne began advertising itself as helping to boost the body's immune systems.
Airborne will now be fighting off cash collectors for a total of $23.3 million to settle the class-action lawsuit brought against them.
Those suing claim the company provided false advertising since it could not be proven that Airborne actually helps prevent colds.
Then in late 2006 the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a non-profit advocacy group, joined the suit as co-counsel against Airborne. Later in 2007 the FTC and some attorney generals began investigating the cold-preventing claims as well.
The CSPI said the Airborne company will have to refund money to consumers who bought its product, and it will pay for advertisements in large publications with instructions on how to get refunded.
To learn more information about how to receive a refund if you've purchased Airborne, CLICK HERE.
This sucks! We used to take Airborne all the time!
I don't care if it was a straight up placebo pill, the shit works for tons of people who take it.
take some emergen-c, you will thank me.
use a neti pot. even though it kinda burns your nose a bit, it actually works. i use it everytime i feel like a cold is coming or when i get a stuffy nose
WTF? I LOVE THAT SHIT! IT ALWAYS WORKS FOR ME AND I'VE BEEN USING IT FOR YEARS TOO. PEOPLE ARE GREEDY BASTARDS FOR SUING THEM. IF YOU DON'T THINK THE PRODUCT WORKS…DON'T BUY IT AGAIN. SHIT, WHO IS SUING ALL THE DODGY DIET PILL COMPANIES…CAUSE THEY WORK SOOOO WELL!
It does too work. I've been using it for 2 years. If you use it correctly it does work. There's always a loser out there that feels cheated. Boo Hoo!
Idiot! It's always been crap, as a consumer you *should* know that and buy smart. But no, Perez is as stupid as the rest of John Q Public. Pfft! Way to go.
I hope they dont stop selling Airborne now. We have such a nauseatingly litigious society. I've been stuck in frivolous legal wrangling for 5 years after my father had a stroke and some of his so called friends crawled out of the woodwork to try and get their hands on his things. Our system allows someone to attack you (the truth or facts don't have to even be part of the equation), then you end up having to spend tens of thousands of dollars or in Airborne's case, tens of millions, to make it end. There is no justice and who is right doesn't matter. Some scumbag lawyers somewhere are making money off this situation with Airborne, saw an opportunity to get away with extracting money from Airborne because something wasn't worded right. What I read yesterday is that Airborne is NOT admitting their product is bad, but decided to just SETTLE the matter. That means, they decided to pay out to end it and move on. It will be cheaper for them to that then to try and exonerate their product/name. Yeah it's just vitamins, read the package, it doesn't say it's magic. When your immune system is down or compromised, aren't' some extra vitamins GOOD FOR YOU?
Airborne has helped me ward off bronchitis many times in the last 4 years and I too like others here, feel good after drinking it. I think the effervescence is refreshing unlike just taking a vitamin tablet. I will not be asking for any money back from Airborne for the many many times I have bought it, but I suppose alot of broke mofo's in trailer parks somewhere will do so for beer and pizza money.
Re: ohyeahhhh – #80, #81, #82, #83
Only an idiot would post their comment more than once!
it does work. its just not a cure for the cold like they were saying. all the vitamins in airborne do help boost ur immune system. why do u think ur mom told u to drink lots of juice with vitamin C when ur sick!? same reason y airborne works. so don't worry its not all in ur heads for those of u that think it worked for u. im taking it right now and its working for me!
And one more thing, Perez, just because the company settled the class action suit against them does not mean the product is shit as you put it.
i used to take it too… and yeah, it doesnt work. =/
haha that is awesome, i used to always tell my friends that they were being little bitches for taking that stuff! i'm no scientist, but i've studied enough to know that airborne is utter bullshit (not too mention that it's expensive). take some fucking analgesics or antihistamines cuz herbal cocktails aint gonna do shit
This product does EXACTLY as it says. It DOES protect you against colds and if you have the start of a cold, as I can always tell when my throat hurts on one side, when you take this, it DOES help!!! I have taken it at the onset of colds for years now and it has always helped.
Goddamn lawyers and idiot people that think they have to sue people for every fucking thing.
We need to SUE THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES FOR RIPPING US OFF FOR YEARS AND SELLING US SHIT THAT ACTUALLY HARMS OUR HEALTH. Why are pharmaceutcal drugs so much more expensive in the US than they are in any other country?? You must ask yourself these things and see just how much these assholes are making off of you idiots!
More people die of pharmaceutical drugs, because of the harmful side effects, than they EVER have from taking vitamins and minerals which actually help you!
Natural Healthcare is the way to go!!
The medical profession will kill you and only after they have sucked every last bit of insurance money out of you. We need a revolution in this country. BIG TIME!
Seriously Perez, you're smarter than that! All "settlement" means is that it's cheaper to pay off the jackASS that called in sick to his boring day job too many times, than it is to pay the lawyers to fight it - thats NOT THE SAME thing as admiting the claim is true. LONG LIVE AIRBORNE!!
it's called the placebo effect folks….but i SWARE it works lol
this is exactly why I have a cold right now
now all you people who said "i can't believe i took airborne and i STILL got sick" know why! start reading labels and see that you're getting ripped off.
Airborne's just a bad knock off of the British Hangover cure BEROCCA
Berocca tastes better and actually has stuff in it to rehydrate you (sort of like gatoraide). Perez, get some Berocca tablets the next time you're in the UK
CSPI is NOT to be confused with Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) or the Fund for Public Interest (same thing), who are running the biggest scam in the entire nonprofit world. These bloody thieves are fraudulent criminals who abuse their own workforce with brute union-busting techniques and steal money from the public, whom they deceive into believing that a single dime is spent on lobbying for the issues. They are nothing but a huge fundraising machine all designed to make one Doug Phelps a very wealthy man.
For all you people that say it never worked for you…, well, it probably won't work for you if your diet consists of pizza and milk and every other mucus producing thing you can possibly shove in your fat gullets.
Yeah…stick to your pharmaceutical coctails and just see how healthy that crap is for you.
Some of you are so stupid, you need to be hit over the head with a big fat stick!
For all you people that say it never worked for you…, well, it probably won't work for you if your diet consists of pizza and milk and every other mucus producing thing you can possibly shove in your fat gullets.
Yeah…stick to your pharmaceutical coctails and just see how healthy that crap is for you.
Some of you are so stupid, you need to be hit over the head with a big fat stick!
Whats the big deal, I've taken airborn, its only about $7, its vitamins, and they cant hurt you, unless your allergic to one of the ingredients in it, but your stupid if you don't read the ingredients in the first place if you are allergic. So you take it, your out $7 and have some minerals and vitamins in your system, get over it.
I guess you could say it's the placebo effect.
Re: B-Dizzle – Her name is spelled Hillary Clinton, not Hilary. If you're going to correct someone, make sure you are right.
"This sucks! We used to take Airborne all the time"— DUH!!!
You must be one of those "Trendy Fags". I hope you get a cold; Le' Douche!!!!
pathetic post "we used to take this" ….. it works, moron
Perez thinks it sucks cause he saw the name Airborne and thought it was a cheap way to get high.
Damn that sucks I use to take that all the time too!!! What can i say i'm a sucker for shit like that when i get sick i really want to get better!!!
It still works - the herbs in it have been used for centuries to fight colds. Doesn't matter it works.
Try ColdFX. It seems to reduce cold duration and if you pop one a day and keep your hands washed during cold season you reduce your chances greatly.
http://coldfx.com/
Wether this product works or not, Its more important find out whos money funded this study as it will tell you more about why this product is being presecuted. Drug companys are always funding 'independant studys' to try and discredit the use of vitamins and supplements simply because they get in the way of their profits. Meaning, the more people actively 'preventing' a cold by taking a supplement (or airborne), the less people lining up for over priced and useless flu shots. Its as simple as that. look at the bigger picture here.
Airborne works for me and my family and I'll continue to take it. I have a ton of receipts for Airborne because I save them for the buy 6 get 1 free promo they have. I won't turn in these receipts for this lawsuit though. It's a great product. I haven't had a true cold in years after using it. I have had onset symptoms that are mild and never turn into a cold after using Airborne. And I have tried taking the supplements inside of Airborne alone and for me they aren't as effective. I'm not stopping a good thing because of some silly typical American lawsuit.
I knew this shit never worked it's just a big waste of money..my dumbass room mate swears by it but she STILL gets sick even if she takes it….hmmmm…i WONDER why?
They didn't "INVENT" it anyways. They have been selling the exact same shit in Germany for YEARS, same shape, same container, etc..
these AIRBORNE folks are SCAMMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tell you what. dunno about colds, but i sucked down a whole bottle of 80 proof absolut last saturday. felt like death on sunday. took an Airborne with 7up. hour later felt like a champ. done it before that, do it after. just took one tonight in fact after half a bottle. its the biz for hangovers. they need to remarket it as a hangover remedy.
Excuse-moi, but if you take medicine, that was developed by some second-grade teacher, then discovering that it doesn't really work at all shouldn't come as such a surprise… Come on people, don't you feel just a little stooopid now?
I dare anyone to take the airborne challenge. If you are around sick people take it. I have not gotten sick at all this year and whether there is scientific evidence to prove it or not, it has some ability to prevent colds/flu. Everyone around me is dropping like flies b/c they're getting sick and so far (knock wood) I've not gotten sick once. It costs way less to pay for Airborne then it does to miss work or decrease your quality of life. I'm sure pharmaceutical companies just love the verdict of this lawsuit. More people will be sick if they don't use Airborne and they can make more money off their products that don't work…
HEY PEREZ KEEP TAKING IT I HEAR IT CURES AIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ingredients didn't hurt you
Anyone who believed it was a"super barrier" against airborne infections
is naive
If you truly want to boost your immune system stop eating like a PIG
drink pomegranate juice and maintain a healthy lifestyle with fresh foods
free of preservatives. You ARE what you eat
please STOP referreing to yourself in the 3rd person
so irritating and GAY haha
Hey it may not prevent a cold but it works wonders on a hang over!!!!!
Who ever fell for this shit anyway???????
No big suprise.
Seriously, I SWEAR on my LIFE that Airbourne works… I can't believe they're going to take this product off the market. I think the problem is it works too well–which means, doctors don't get petty patients with minor colds coming in as much. Honestly, i SWEAR to titties Airbourne works…
I call bullshit. That stuff rules. Absolutely swear by it. Placebo effect maybe, but whatevs. Maybe it will be cheaper now.
Airbourne works.. they just properly conduct testing… Which has nothing to do with the integrity of the product… shame
Airbourne works.. they just improperly conducted test… Which has nothing to do with the integrity of the product… shame
you know what l find EVEN funnier??? All the stores were following suit and making Generic Airborne…ha.
first of all, why would you take any drug that was created by a school teacher? how many of your elementary teachers were capable of developing pharmaceuticals???
Duh… didn't you read the ingredients, Perez? Don't put shit in your body unless you know what's in it. The fact remains that Airborne will not hurt you… in fact, it might help you in the long run since it does contain vitamins that are good for you. However, there is no miracle cure for cold and viruses. Those just need to run their course. Doctors have been telling us that for decades.
*shrug*
I take Vitamin C and Zinc now all the time and usually am far less sick than my coworkers.
I mean REALLY far less sick.
Before when I didn't take that stuff I seed to catch a lot of colds.
So I don't say how they can say Airborne doesn't work (since that's the main ingredients).
thanks Perez, im getting my fucking money back
i'm not an idiot, this shit works. i was definitely getting sick, sore throat, congested, and the flu has been going around like crazy. I took airbourne and vitamin C tablets and i was progressively better from then on. i know how my body works and the way i was feeling was only going to get worse if i hadn't taken them.
AIRBOURNE WORKS….JUST GREEDY SCIENTISTS AGAIN TRYING TO BAN SOMETHING THAT WORKS TO WELL SO WE CAN BUY THE OVERPRICED MEDS
This is just one more example of western medicine and the big pharmacutical companies being bullies. They always poo poo any type of holistic approach - why? MONEY!! You are being played people-this product does work - it is not a miracle drug-but it does boost your immune system-many of us use it with fantastic results - western medicine and holistic practices work beautifully together-but THEY don't want you to know that and will do anything to keep us all from thinking they do-use your own minds-try it for yourself. And Perez -why are you always so quick to believe this crap?
So we3 should believe some judge and a bunch of greedy lawyers and not ourselves. in this American health care system everyone must do thier own research and be resposible for thier own health. Airbourn does not hurt you so whats the big deal. Like the corporations have a cure for the common cold. But they DO WANT YOU TO GET THOSE FLU SHOTS!!! WAKE UP SHEEPLE !!!!
dude. herbs help you. you're just part of the mass media who's brainwASHED
I LOVE AIREBORNE. yeah i knew it was just vitamins but it definitely helps when you feel a cold coming on. if you already have one, forget it. plus, it doesn't make you feel all swoony like cold meds that knock you out.
I like Airborne, and no, it's not supposed to be a cure, but any dose of vitamins will help when you are sick. That's been known for way longer than Airborne has been around. It works well for me and my family, and I wouldn't dream of asking for a refund. This is slightly ridiculous.
so did it help you when you took it? It's helped my family. Lawyers suck
hmmm…wellllll funny i knew this crap all along because i remember the news saying it when the herbal remedy first came out.
plus when it says invented by a school teacher on the front of the box…you know it's bullshit.
Uh-oh!!!!!!!
That is bullshit. I have a kid and a husband who are sick all the time. I use to be too. For about the last year everytime they get sick I start taking airbourne, and guess what I don't get it. Even if it is just an amped up vitamin, vitamins help your immune system. I hope they are not going to pull it off the market cause of people trying to profit off of it's sucess.
uh-oh!!!!!!!!!!!
uh-oh!!!
Teachers are becoming the dregs of our society. Every day there's yet another teacher getting busted for molestion.
As soon as I saw the commercial for airborne, which said it was invented by a teacher, I knew it had to be crap.
The "copycat" commercial was especially typical for the average teacher these days.
There's this other product called "Head On" that is a roll -on that used to claim to cure headaches…then I think they got a "prove it" law suit and now they advertise…"Head On, applied directly to the forehead"…with no claims of curing or even treating headaches…and the ads still run quite often, so I'm assuming they're still in business! We're all such suckers, eh?
so how many times have your used airborne since you're so highly incensed? it reads "helps prevent" it doesn't say "cures the common cold"…..once again, you're dope
Anyone who took that crap should be sued for being an idiot! If you couldn't see right through those shabby commercials you might as well have voted for Bush and joined Hillary in voting for the war while you were at itl, because you're a gullible dumbass!
This stuff really works! It is another case of big business and government attacking a "alternative" product that might be able to take away millions of dollars in sales from the "big guys". It is illegal in the country to say that a product can cure anything if it has not been approved by the FDA. Maybe Airborne should have been more careful with their wording, but regardless, this stuff works for me and works for many people I know. Make your own decision and don't be force fed the party line. It is not all about the OTC drugs you are used to seeing at the drugstore…..those have potentially harmful stuff in them as well, and they don't tell you the possible risks of those. Better yet……it's just a cold, deal with it and don't worry about popping so many pills. Drink your fluids and wait a week or two!
yeah, but holy shit, i can get $56 from this settlement. woohoo!
People are so stupid that they would buy this shit hook, line and sinker. Vitamins help boost your immune system, but it goes hand in hand with other things like getting enough rest, exercising, eating right and taking care of yourself. You can't pop any kind of pill in the morning and expect it'll protect you from all kids of germs… just doesn't work that way. You have to take care of your body all the time to keep your immune system strong.
I can't believe that it was on the market for that long, think about it-1st it was made by a teacher, not a scientist. next, colds are caused by viruses, many different viruses. Scientists haven't made something for colds, you think that a teacher can? And how can a tablet keep germs from you? Germs are everywhere. The tablet would have to contain antibiotics and it still would not help against viruses. If it contained antibiotics, it could not be sold over the counter. AND, alot of germs are gotten by contact-shaking hands, etc. I am totally surprised that it was on the market that long. Next, I would like to see that stuff you put up your nose to help end colds. What the hell is in that? bs
You really needed a newspaper article to tell you this stuff was illegitimate? Wow, you really are stupid.
But there are two different concepts of medicine in this country — one is the authoritarian world of the FDA and the AMA, which has often been seen to favor financial interests over any other interests, and the other is the world of "alternative medicine", which is simply the traditional style of medicine that existed before the government agencies assumed authority. Many people have turned away from government-approved medicine because they believe it to be heartless and often very wrong-headed. This disturbs the government regulators and they frequently go after the wholistic and naturopathic practitioners with a big stick and without mercy. The motive is partially to protect people from the possibility of fraud, but largely to maintain control and financial dominance. People should be free to see these realities and to make their own decisions about what is effective for them. A medical Gestapo is not in the best interests of the people.
I hope the public will finally get a general sense of the fact that the FDA does NOT regulate supplements/minerals/herbals/vitamins. Companies manufacturing these really downplay that fact and ads make some products seem like miracle workers.
Only actual "drugs" that can claim to treat/cure a disease state. This means that in reality, supplements are not put through the vigorous clinical testing for safety or efficacy like prescription and over-the-counter drugs on the market do.
Next time, check the label of the supplement and you'll see the statement: "This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."
While some supplements may be beneficial (like fish oil, vitamins, etc.), the consumer should make informed decisions about what they purchase and ultimately put in their bodies.
How much can you sue for if you only pay $5 for a product?? It is not like it harmed anyone. I can't stand that we have become so "sue happy". So the product doesn't work….don't buy it. I have bought this product well over 10 times but I don't plan on filing a claim.
oh for god's sake, anyone with half a brain could read the ingredients and know that this product wasn't much of anything. people need to stop being so dumb and believing everything they hear and read.
i like taking it when i start to feel sick. sometimes we need placebos. whatever.
well what the fuck did you EXPECT?
That's sad, I remember they always had such nice commercials!
I prefer Zicam. The zinc seems to work for me.
I haven't gotten anything contagious since I started taking it 2 yrs. ago, so I'm gonna stick with it. And I don't know a single person that ever thought it was a cure for the common cold. Besides, every one of the ingredients can only help you anyway, so why not?
[b]I will still buy and continue to take airborne.
If you didn't already know it was merely vitamins, you're an IDIOT. That doesn't mean quit taking it! Of course vitamins help fight off colds and flu! To me it's a very convenient way of taking a super shot of vitamins and I went 3 years without being sick by taking this product. I can't believe this is NEWS! I always read the ingredients of what I put in my body. Don't you???
*DuH*
[b]I will still buy and continue to take airborne.
If you didn't already know it was merely vitamins, you're an IDIOT. That doesn't mean quit taking it! Of course vitamins help fight off colds and flu! To me it's a very convenient way of taking a super shot of vitamins and I went 3 years without being sick by taking this product. I can't believe this is NEWS! I always read the ingredients of what I put in my body. Don't you???
*DuH*[b/]
You're all idiots…if u read the label it's very clear that it's a hyped-up multi-vitamin. But it's the good kind that makes ur pee neon yellow. It's a good dose to have right before you're getting sick. If it doesn't work for u, it means you're an unhealthy person already…
Perez, it's attorneys general, not attorney generals
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! i knew it! my ex used to tell me to take it when i got sick and i refused because i thought it was GARBAGEEE. now i'm waiting for someone to say that gatorade really DOESN'T quench your thirst!
its just a fucking vitamin supplement. its like taking half of a multi vitamin, which most americans don't do anyways, so spare me with the refund shit. you will be healthier in the long run if you do take vitamins.
Most OTC meds and prescriptions do more damage than good! We all need to go back to what is naturally put on this planet for us, like Essential Oils. Young Living has theraputic grade essential oils. Check it out!
yeah this shit definitely doesn't work
Folks- Mix together a solution of warm water, pickling salt, and baking soda in a quart jar. Use a bulb syringe (what you would use on babies) and squirt it up in your nose twice a day. Viruses grow in your nose and this solution eliminates the environmment for them to grow. The results are incredible.
I use it when I feel a cold coming on and it always works for me. I keep it in my purse always and never have I gotten sick after taking it. Sorry Perez.
Re: jules –
It works for me….every time my throat gets a bit scratchy or I start to feel run down I take it. Then I don't get sick. I plan on taking some this morning actually since I have that feeling in my throat.
Obviously if you are already sick, it doesn't do anything for you.
elderberry juice is all ya need. THAT works!
The best stuff to use is Zicam. My Grandma used Airborne and she ended up getting very very sick, she is 89yrs old and the pharmacist told us this will ease the symptoms and duration of the cold. Well it sent her to the hospital. She used this item as directed and it did not work!! I believe some people used Airborne and ended up hospitalized like my Grandma, Airborne needs to pay for some medical bills too!!
it works and i'm still going to take it. I've never got sick from taking it, just better!
Stuff works great. Prevented me from having a cold for 2 1/2 years. I hope it doesn't go off the market because it works!
It is amazing that this lawsuit took this freaking long. This product is simply a nicely packaged multivitamin, and to find this out all you had to do was read the package ingredients. Also the fact that it prevents and cures colds is a load of baloney! Cold are viruses. NOTHING cures viruses. The only thing that can protect your body from viruses is your own body.
I dont know, everytime I feel like i am getting a cold I take one AND I DONT GET SICK, whats up with that? I think it works great~~and I dont believe its mind over mater
OMG I remember this on Price is Right!!