The 6Shooter website (http://www.6shooter.co.nz/) contains an advertisement for a “Health Nano Quantum Energy Bracelet/ Wristband” (http://www.6shooter.co.nz/deals/558090).
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This advertisement makes a large amount of unsubstantiated and false therapeutic claims, including the following:
– “Promote blood circulation, enhance metabolism”
– “It will transmit nutrients and oxygen to cell and expel toxin in our body,people wont have feel cold with hand and feet any more”
– “It will provide energy to blood corpuscle and lower viscosity,then reduce the chance to get cardiovascular disease,heart disease and wind-stroke”
– “Improve metabolism and detox,keep slim body”
– “Release body ache,muscle tight and stiff”
– “Prevent mental fatigue, Tranquilize the mind:”
– “Improve sleeping quality”
– “Enhance mental focus to get good performance on job; make students keep their head in examinations,reduce anxious and improve attention in studing.”
– “Make people feel fresh in long distance driving or frequent driving.”
– “Renew our balance and strength,promote body flexibility:”
– “Improve old peoples strength and balance,prevent them from tumble with any hurt”
– “To athletes like Golfer,it can strengthen physical,endurance and strength, with good performance.”
– “Enhance physical ability,keep yonth and good health, with more vitality:”
– “Strengthen human body BIO energy field to prevent harmful electromagnetic wave.”
– “Protect us from electromagnetic waves from computer, mobile phone, electrical appliance, telecommunications and so on,recover our body with balance and coordination.”
– “Stabilize oxygen supply in blood, activate blood corpuscle”
– “Provide relief from allergies and respiratory related illnesses.”
– “Normalize hormonal imbalances.”
– “Decrease irritablility,lethargy and depression.”
– “Increse concentration and productvity.”
– “Relieve body aches.”
Each of these claims is in violation of the Therapeutic Products Advertising Code Principle 2 and the Therapeutic Products Advertising Code Part B2 Requirement 3.
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The advertisement also makes use of inaccurate scientific information and uses scientific terminology in an inappropriate manner. For example:
– In the name of the product, “Health Nano Quantum Energy Bracelet/ Wristband”, the scientific terms “Nano”, “Quantum”, and “Energy” are all used inappropriately.
– “Strengthen human body BIO energy field to prevent harmful electromagnetic wave.”. There is no such thing as a “human body BIO energy field”.
– “Protect us from electromagnetic waves from computer, mobile phone, electrical appliance, telecommunications and so on”. There is no evidence to suggest that such electromagnetic radiation is harmful to humans. This claim also plays on consumers’ fear without justifiable reason, in violation of the Advertising Code of Ethics Rule 6.
– “Negative ion is the basic element to maintain good health.It can neutralize oxidized substance,such as cells.So the cells are revived and improved the immunity of human body.”. This makes absolutely no sense and is simply an example of gratuitous use of pseudoscience.
Each of the above statements is in violation of the Therapeutic Products Advertising Code Requirement 4.3.
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Due to the excessive use of pseudoscience in an attempt to support unsubstantiated and implausible health claims, this advertisement has not been prepared with the due sense of social responsibility to consumers and society required of it in the Advertising Code of Ethics Basic Principle 4. Nor does it observe the high standard of social responsibility required of it by the Therapeutic Products Advertising Code Principle 3.
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It is worth noting that the website on which this advertisement appears does not run its advertisements for very long. However, as the ASCB’s decisions hold for other advertisements than the one specifically mentioned in the complaint (e.g. similar or identical advertisements on other websites) I would like to urge the ASCB not to consider this complaint settled if the advertisement is removed from the website due to the deal having run its course.
I feel it is worth mentioning that, in the decision for complaint 13/012… “The Complaints Board noted the advertisements for this product had been removed from the Advertiser’s website in the interim, but considered it was in the interest of the consumer that the issues raised by the Complainant be addressed, particularly given the… strength of the claims.”
Honest Universe 