FTC Pops Lane Labs for Contemptuous Claims

WASHINGTON—The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced in mid-January it filed civil contempt charges against Lane Labs and its president, Andrew Lane, alleging the company violated a standing order by making unsubstantiated claims and misrepresenting scientific research for two of its current products. According to FTC (www.ftc.gov), Lane makes claims its Fertil Male product enhances male fertility, and its AdvaCAL (aka AAACa) is superior to other calcium products and on par with or superior to prescription drugs used to fight osteoporosis. The agency contends the claims for Fertil Male are based on flawed science, and AdvaCAL claims are both unsubstantiated and misrepresented. Lane Labs is still under orders from a settlement of charges in 2000 for claims it made in marketing its Benefin and Skin Answer products for prevention, treatment and cure of cancer. FTC is seeking to recover all revenues relative to these new violations.