The Too-Good-to-Be-True Product Hall of Fame
In September, Reebok was ordered to refund $25 million to customers because its advertising promised — without adequate evidence — that the company’s EasyTone shoes could firm users’ butts and legs with every step. But of course, that’s only the latest multimillion-dollar settlement in a long line of misleading or unfounded marketing claims. Over the past century, Americans have been sold countless too-good-to-be-true products, including cancer-fighting electronic zappers, “sugar” that’s not sugar and “purifiers” that add chemicals to water. Here, we highlight 14 of the most notorious examples.
Falsely Advertised Products
- The Too-Good-to-Be-True Product Hall of Fame
- Reebok EasyTone Shoes and Apparel
- Listerine
- Splenda
- Dr. Clark’s Zapper
- Airborne
- Q-Ray Bracelets
- Dannon Yogurt
- Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereals
- ExtenZe
- Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound
- Dr. Koch’s Cure-All
- Nivea My Silhouette! Skin Cream
- Oreck Halo Vacuum and ProShield Air Purifier
- Norelco Clean Water Machine
