For release on November 26,2012
CONTACT:
Yen B. Dang, Deputy District Attorney
Consumer Protection Unit
(408) 792-2818
A company that claimed consumers would lose weight by sprinkling its “Tastants” – flavored crystals - on foodmust pay more than $900,000 to settle a false advertising lawsuit filed by a group of state District Attorneys,including Santa Clara County D.A. Jeff Rosen.
Sensa, the so-called "sprinkle diet," is sold nationwide and became the subject of the Statewide NutritionalSupplement Task Force investigation after claiming the product’s weight-loss effects had been clinically provenin the “largest clinical study” ever conducted. An independent expert concluded that the study did not meetcompetent and reliable scientific standards.
“This company’s spurious claims preyed upon a nation struggling with serious weight-related health issues,including obesity and diabetes,’’ Deputy District Attorney Yen Dang said. “People seeking to lose weight shouldeat healthy and balanced meals, exercise regularly and see a doctor for advice about weight loss. Beware ofcompanies touting miracle diets.”
Sensa Products, LLC and Intelligent Beauty Inc., the parent corporation, are permanently enjoined from makingany claims regarding the efficacy or effects of any of their products without possessing competent and reliablescientific evidence that substantiates the claims. They are also prohibited from continuing to charge customersfor shipments sent after a customer has asked to stop the shipments. The companies may not enroll customers inan automatic shipment program without a clear disclosure of the customer's obligations.
As part of the final judgment, the defendants agreed to pay civil penalties and costs in the amount of $800,000 to be used for the enforcement of consumer protection laws. The Court also ordered Sensa and Intelligent Beauty to pay $105,000 in restitution to California consumers.