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If you purchased any Accelis, nanoSLIM, Cold MD, Germ MD, or Allergy MD product, the Federal Trade Commission wants you to know that you may be eligible for a refund.

As part of its ongoing efforts to stop bogus health claims, in 2010, the FTC charged Iovate Health Sciences U.S.A. and two affiliated Canadian companies with deceptively advertising that the supplements named above could help consumers lose weight or could treat and prevent colds, flu, and allergies.  In settling with the FTC, Iovate agreed to pay $5.5 million for consumer refunds.

Consumers who bought any of these dietary supplements between January 2006 and July 2010 will have until April 1, 2013, to apply for a refund by filing a claim form online or calling 1-877-576-9978 to request a paper claim form in the mail.  Consumers who previously received a refund from a California class action settlement involving Cold MD are not eligible to receive a second payment.  Consumers are eligible to submit claims for up to five of a single type of product, and for a total of up to 10 products.  The amount of each refund will depend on the number of products purchased and the number of claims submitted by eligible consumers.  Eligible consumers who receive refund checks must cash them within 60 days of when they are issued.

More information about this refund program is available at ftc.gov/healthclaims.  Consumers with specific questions also can call 1-877-576-9978. 

Consumers should carefully evaluate advertising claims for vitamins and other dietary supplements.  For more information see:  Dietary Supplements and Weighing the Claims in Diet Ads.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.  Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.