Class Action Suit Settled by Makers of Airborne
The makers of supposed cold-buster Airborne settled a class action lawsuit over false advertising claims today. When the herbal supplement first debuted ten years ago, the packaging proclaimed that it could “ward off colds.” Since then, the company has softened its claim, but the only study to support Airborne’s efficacy was conducted by two people and paid for by the company. No wonder it has agreed to pay back $23.3 million.
If you've bought Airborne recently and you saved your receipt, they'll reimburse you the $6.99 (Walgreen's price). Hey, it may be worth it to some people.
UPDATE: Good news! Our diligent commenters pointed out that as long as you have proof of purchase of one box of Airborne, you can get a refund for up to six additional boxes. That raises the stakes to roughly $48.93, which may be worth it to this law student.
Airborne Settles Suit over False Claims [NPR]
Airborne Settlement Website
(23) Comments
Airborne is great. I swear by it. I like the orange and pink grapefruit. The lime flavor is not so great.
$6.99 for those who bought it... millions for the extortionists playing the role of class counsel.
Created by a school teacher
Discredited by science
Sued for millions by lawyers
Airborne rocks!
Didn't DHL buy them? Only TTT firms used them anyway.
you don't need a receipt if you are claiming a refund on less than 7 boxes
You're telling me that shit doesn't work? I was buying that instead of getting flu shots last year.
Flu shots are a farce too...
i should sue them for discrediting the only placebo that works for me when i am about to get sick.
bastards. i'll pretend i didn't read this.
well, at least I'll get $42 back... though I'm not holding my breath... that's at least more than class participants usually get out of these things. While I wil take my $42, class actions in general are one of the biggest "things that suck about America."
I love airborne. Once I started taking it at a beginning of a cold I didnt get sick for 2 years!!! I think I am immuned to it now though.
The phrase "supposed cold buster" makes me want to run to my local pharmacy for some "supposed anti-puking" pills.
PS: "Airborne" is singular and takes the pronoun "it," not "they."
I cannot beleive court is going to step in and return money to fools -- if you bought a pill that looked liked it prevented colds -- you are TOO STUPID TO HAVE MONEY.
did Barnum and Bailey (sucker born every minute) have to repay all their money.
You know what makes america great? Taking money from suckers!
I love it too.
I bet people will get there money from Airborne years in advance of when we will get our BarBri money.
sorry meant their.
4:52 why do you keep buying it??? Just like other nutritional supps, Airborne shouldn't be advertising that it prevents colds, but I challenge everyone who has bought the product and thinks it actually works to not ask for your money back. I take Airborne after I start feeling like I'm coming down with a bug, and I bounce right back. It's been keeping me well for a number of years, too. Extra vitamins and echinacea taken in liquid form (ie Airborne) can help the body fight off bugs - even momma says so - it's just hard to scientifically prove, since it doesn't always work for everyone the same way.
I was excited because I thought we had heard the last from Sharon Eliza.
I HATE YOU SHARON!!!
So...speaking of class action lawsuits, when do we get our money from the Bar-Bri suit???
I heard Airborne is basically a tablet comprised of vitamins and gatorade mix. So go ahead and drink a bottle of gatorade with your next vitamin. My family law prof always swore by a massive dose of gatorade to fend off early signs of a cold.
I love airborne. I especially love emergen-c's. if more people created fraudulent medicines there would be alot more delicious powders on the market.
reading www.randi.org and www.quackwatch.org and learning about basic science will help put an end to quackery.