Smoke Away Settles FTC Charges

Smoke Away Settles FTC Charges

WASHINGTONEmerson Direct (akaCouncil on Natural Health) and its owner Michael Connors paid $1.3 million tosettle charges by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that marketing for itsSmoke Away dietary supplement kits deceptively claimed the products would allowusers to quit smoking easily and permanently, without cravings or side effects.FTC also charged that two doctors, Thomas De Blasio, M.D., and Sherry Bresnahan,D.C., who endorsed Smoke Away in advertisements misused their expertise and, inBresnahans case, did not have the expertise represented. A full judgment of$61 million would be due if Emerson misrepresented its financial position.