[22], The greater weight of the persuasive expert testimony demonstrates that there is insufficient competent and reliable scientific evidence to substantiate claims that the Pom products treat, prevent or reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction or that they are clinically proven to do so. The nonprofit American Botanical Council (ABC) has recently released a monograph on the published scientific and clinical studies relating to POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice.. "Lots of products are going to try to use health claims from research, often from their own industry, [just] to sell a product. This is how we can guarantee pomegranate perfection in each bottle. "These days it's possible for a food company to pay just about anybody to conduct a study," says Silverglade. Pomegranate Blueberry 100% Juice All rights reserved. After receiving petitions from PETA supporters and threats from Whole Foods and other retailers who said they would pull POM's drinks from store shelves if POM Wonderful continued to fund experiments on animals, the company agreed to only fund non-animal studies. Recently "deceptive" health advertisements were spotlighted by an FTC ruling on Skechers Shape-ups and the . That trial is slated for next year. But are shoppers really convinced that POM can unclog their arteries, cure cancer, and lead to hotter sex? 10, 2013) (FTC Op.). This is the startup story of Pom Wonderful, the world famous pomegranate juice. Cracks Down on Health Claims by Nestl and Others", "Judge Says Pom Wonderfuls Advertising Is Misleading", "US FTC Office of Administrative Law Judges Docket No. After receiving positive results, Resnick decided to launch a pomegranate juice beverage. Yep, that was her company. Our Wonderful pomegranates are whole-pressed to release polyphenol antioxidants from the rind, pith and arils. Have you ever ordered your girlfriend or wife flowers? The company also manufactures blended juice beverages, such as pomegranate juice mixed with juices of blueberry, cranberry, cherry, mango or tangerine, and bottled tea- and coffee-based beverages of various flavors distributed in more conventional containers. Wonderful Pomegranate Research: Scientific Studies on Wonderful Variety Pomegranates "The Journal of Nutrition;" Pomegranate juice ellagitannin metabolites are present in human plasma and some persist in urine for up to 48 hours; Navindra P. Seeram, et al. I believe!!!" [9] It is the leading commercial variety in California, being well suited for juicing with its soft seeds, high water content, and wine-like flavor. Such nutrient content claims on food must have a scientifically validated Dietary Reference Intake value and the names of such nutrients included. The Supreme Court did side with the Resnicks in a separate case also involving POM Wonderful in 2014. One of the most prominent claims, that POM can decrease arterial plaque by 30 percent, was taken from a single pilot study that included just 19 people and was funded by the makers of POM. Science and research are showing that many of our foods are POTENT in anti-oxidants and vitamin C which have been suggested to fight free radicals, improve skin and health. That same summer, POM published newsletter in a which it that "NEW RESEARCH OFFERS asserted FURTHER PROOF OF THE HEART-HEALTHY BENEFITS OF POM WONDERFUL JUICE." App. According to the FTC's complaint, the studies POM has funded do not substantiate the company's claims, and a closer look at the research seems to bear that out. Consumers deserve no less.. There are two broad types of research being sponsored and published. Ever heard of FIJI Water? Cir. There seem to be more than a few believers out there. Two wealthy entrepreneurs acquired and planted thousands of acres of pomegranate orchards in California and started the closely held POM Wonderful LLC and an affiliated company to make, market, and sell pomegranate products, including juices and dietary supplements containing pomegranate extract. 9344 In the Matter of Pom Wonderful LLC and Roll Global LLC, et al Initial Decision dated May 17, 2012", "Why POM Wonderful Can Celebrate FTC Judge's Ruling in Advertising Case", "Statement of FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez Regarding Supreme Court's Decision Not to Review POM Wonderful Case", "The Verdict: POM Wonderful Misled Its Customers, A Blow To Its Billionaire Owners", "Court rules for Pom Wonderful in dispute with Coke", "In POM v. Coca-Cola, Supreme Court Could Shake Up Food Labeling", "U.S. top court asks if Coca-Cola juice label is misleading", "Attorney: First round to POM at the Supreme Court, but don't expect the floodgates to open ", "Docket No. We'll send you new resources and updates every Wednesday. Josh Long | Apr 13, 2015 production process. This week, an administrative law judge ruled that POM . That's the paradox of products such as POM, Silverglade says: The health claims on these products strain the imagination, yet studies have repeatedly shown that health claims sell food. ", Health.com: Food label know-how: 5 mistakes even savvy shoppers make. ), Response of Federal Trade Commission to Petition for Rehearing en Banc, 13-1060 (124.01 KB) January 30, 2015 File Opinion of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Affirming Commission Order (217.5 KB) POM Wonderful is the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States as well as the worldwide leader in fresh California pomegranates and pomegranate-based products including our 100% pomegranate juices, healthy juice blends, and teas. Preliminary results have The Supreme Courts decision not to hear the case is a big blow to Stewart and LyndaResnick, the billionaire couple behind Pom Wonderful. The following research was conducted exclusively with California-grown, Wonderful variety pomegranates. Coca-Cola had argued that the Wonderful Company didnt have a case and denied its labels were misleading, but the Supreme Court agreed the trail should proceed. In addition to POM Wonderful juice, the company sells POMx pills and liquid extract. B fig.10, at 5 (U.S. Fed. At the forefront is billionaire couple Stewart and Lynda Resnick, two of the university's most prominent donors and owners of pomegranate juice company Pom Wonderful. Their Wonderful Company also sells Fiji Water, branded pistachios and almonds, and more. In 2009 alone, the FDA warned 17 companies that they were providing misleading nutritional information on their packaging or making overly specific health claims. Are the health claims true? This is the startup story of Pom Wonderful, the world famous pomegranate juice. [4] In addition to drinks, the company sells pills and concentrated liquid products marketed as nutritional supplements. In 2012 a federal judge agreed that some of the ads were misleading. Captivated by folklore, she started to sponsor medical research on the health benefits of pomegranates. Dr. Harley Liker, M.D., a physician at UCLA Medical Center who has also led research funded by POM, directed all inquiries to a POM spokesman. ", I started drinking POM after reading the studies two years ago, my triglycerides were almost 1000!," one of POM Wonderful's 12,000 fans breathlessly posted on Facebook after the FTC announced its lawsuit. Some history: The FTC filed a complaint in 2010 that the Resnicks POM Wonderful had used deceptive advertising when marketing the antioxidant-rich drink as being able to treat, prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. According to the Federal Trade Commission and a decision by a U.S. federal court, the short answer is no. The federal government doesn't require companies to vet health claims with the agency before plastering them on product packaging (as long as the claims are accompanied by a disclaimer about their uncertainty). The film was entitled POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. Caring for the well-being of our planet TOO GOOD FOR THE LANDFILL Wonderful pomegranates are truly a versatile fruit. POM Wonderful pomegranate juice is just one beverage that's come under FTC scrutiny in the last few years. Pom Wonderful has been funded by Resnicks parent company, Roll Global. No securities transactions are executed or negotiated on or through the Fundable platform. Circuit, POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, "Democratic lawmakers call on Senator Feinstein to retract water proposal", "Hitting the Shelves: A Twist on Energy Drinks -- February 2009", "Published research on POMx shows similar health benefits to pomegranate juice", "A Pistachio Farmer, Pom Wonderful, and the FTC", "Consumers develop a passion for all things pomegranate", "POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice may improve erectile dysfunction", "Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Agree to Curb Animal Tests", "Juice-Maker Caves to Pressure, Gives Up Animal Testing", "FDA says Pom Wonderful antioxidant claims not so wonderful", "FTC Complaint Charges Deceptive Advertising by POM Wonderful", "F.D.A. Fundable receives no compensation in connection with the purchase or sale of securities. Quinton Ma, a 22-year-old marketing coordinator at Gawker Media, in New York City, started to drink VitaminWater as a middle schooler because it seemed like a healthy alternative to soda. And POM believes in finding a productive use for I've been following the legal battles between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the makers of POM juice and other pomegranate juice products with avid interest, mainly because they deal with the credibility of sponsored scientific research. 23a. [15][16], On February 23, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed the company in a warning letter that POM Wonderful was "[promoting] (POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice) for conditions that cause the product to be a drug". "[20] The FDA warning letter makes it clear that it expects POM to correct "deficiencies in your products or labeling" within 15 days. [1] Through The Wonderful Company, their holding company, they are also affiliated with Teleflora, FIJI Water, pesticide manufacturer Suterra, and Paramount Agribusiness. Fine art from an iPhone? Designing the logo herself, Resnick had her team design an hourglass shape for the bottle, seen below. "Pom Wonderful loses appeal of FTC's deceptive advertising ruling"; Technion Israel Institute of Technology, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. moisture and air temperature to water trees at the best possible times. POM Wonderful is a U.S. product, the orchards are located in California. One of the most popular superfoods is pomegranates and pomegranate juice, and POM Wonderful is one of the world's leading brands of pomegranate juice. POM Wonderful - 100% Pomegranate Juice SUpercharge Your Health With Antioxidant Goodness Recharge your batteries with the free-radical fighting antioxidant power of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice. However far-fetched the claims may sound, POM is standing behind them. Pomegranate juice is rich in antioxidant polyphenols, which can reverse atherosclerosis as well as vascular inflammation, and thereby lower blood pressure. [35], The company, product, executives and owner Lynda Resnick were featured in a 2011 documentary about product placement, marketing and advertising in movies and TV shows. POM Wonderful v. FTC (D.C. The research is often funded by the manufacturers, however, and industry-funded research can be prone to bias. In January, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit also affirmed the FTCs decision. needed for every single tree throughout its growth cycle. According to a pilot study released in the International Journal of Impotence Research, drinking 8 ounces of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice daily was found to have beneficial effects on . The move will place a higher cost on POM as there would be a lot of stakeholders involved and additional resources required to carry out the second human trial (O'Hara, 2017). POM is quoted as responding that "all statements made in connection with POM products are true and as strong advocates of honest labeling and fair advertising, we are looking forward to working with the agency to resolve this matter. Consumers deserve no less., n a Forbes Magazine feature published in November. Then youve probably used another one of her companies, teleflora. The brands included in Roll Global are seen below: After purchasing a pistachio orchard (Wonderful Pistachios), she discovered that it also contained some pomegranate trees. bottles of POM . Last month, the agency sued POM Wonderful for making "false and unsubstantiated" health claims, and is asking the company to remove the claims from its ads. Thats her as well. ( Health.com) -- The makers of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice say that the drink improves blood flow and heart health, prevents and treats prostate cancer, and works 40 percent as well as. "I figured that if they were selling something that I could get extra vitamins from, it couldn't hurt to drink," Ma says. "Working out everyday, drinking POM, and eating healthy, they are now less than 400. Trade Comm'nJan. We utilize intelligent underground drip irrigation systems that deliver the precise amount of water While not part of POM Wonderful itself, another company owned by the same Resnick family, Paramount Farms, has extended the "Wonderful" brand to pistachios. POM Wonderful grows and harvests every pomegranate we sellso nothing comes between 100% Pomegranate Juice A little sweet, a little tartevery sip is vibrant, complex and delicious. The company employs a proprietary process in their own facilities to mechanically extract juice for various pomegranate based products. [23][24][25], In January 2015, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. . Probably not," says Dr. Lenard Lesser, M.D., one of the co-authors of that study and a researcher at UCLA. including 17 clinical studies, have been published in peer-reviewed journals. The FTC vs. POM Wonderful: the latest round. The company is a part of a portfolio of companies started by serial entrepreneur, Lynda Resnick. . 100% PURE POMEGRANATE JUICE. About POM Wonderful POM Wonderful is the largest grower and producer of fresh pomegranates and pomegranate juice in the United States as well as the worldwide leader in fresh California . We offer a complete family of healthy fruit, arils, juices, and teas. "The trend is away from traditional soda pop [toward] products claiming to provide magical health benefits," Silverglade says. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. Most of the health indicators have improved in the past decade. One such experiment sought to examine a possible correlation between pomegranates and erectile dysfunction by inducing the disorder in live rabbits. In 2012 a federal judge agreed that some of the ads were misleading. POM Wonderful LLC is a grower of pomegranates and a distributor of pomegranate juices. The slightly longer answer, as decreed by the FTC is this: The company that makes POM cannot state such claims in advertising. It was founded in 2002 by the billionaire . Fundable takes no part in the negotiation or execution of transactions for the purchase or sale of securities, and at no time has possession of funds or securities. Despite POM Wonderful's research (they've spent millions of dollars on clinical studies of their products), the FTC says the claims that their products can prevent and treat heart disease, erectile dysfunction and cancer, as well as lower blood pressure, are false based on POM Wonderful's own research. As long as consumers limit themselves to 8-ounce servings and products with no added sugar, juice can be an excellent source of vitamins and other nutrients, Gans says. There are two broad types of research being sponsored and published. But that doesn't mean the claims are invented -- most are based in research. in a july 2006 press release, pom claimed that "drinking 8 ounces of pom wonderful pomegranate juice daily prolonged post-prostate surgery psa doubling time from 15 to 54 months," without noting that some or all of the increase in the patients' psa doubling times may have resulted from the radical prostatectomies or radiation treatments undergone (Two weeks before the FTC publicly announced its lawsuit, POM preemptively sued the FTC, claiming that preapproval of ads featuring health claims violates the company's right to free speech.). 9344, Opinion of the Commission, App. "A grocery store is a designed marketing environment to get people to buy things," says Lesser. Research sponsorship activity for POM Wonderful including latest sponsorship deals, analytics, decision makers, agencies, competitors, reports and jobs. [5][6] In 2017, POM Wonderful acquired the pomegranate distributor Ruby Fresh.[7]. "The basic research relied upon by Respondents (POM Wonderful) and the Forest/Padma-Nathan Study support the conclusion that pomegranate juice has a beneficial effect on erectile tissue physiology, health and function. Proven to fight for cardiovascular, prostate and erectile health." "NEW RESEARCH OFFERS FURTHER PROOF OF THE HEART-HEALTHY BENEFITS OF POM WONDERFUL JUICE. Simply using the terms "antioxidants" and "phytochemicals" is not specific enough for food nutrient labeling requirements because phytochemicals in pomegranate juice have not yet been defined with actual physiological properties in humans. On-site monitoring systems measure soil Pom Wonderful Stats Founder of POM Wonderful: Lynda Resnick Age at Founding: 58 Founder Net Worth: $3.5 Billion Revenue: $165 Million (2007) # of Employees: 400 The advertisements touted POM Juice and POMx supplements with statements such as: "SUPER HEALTH POWERS! and wonderfully nutritious. Pomegranate juice in general is the actual subject of its published sponsored research regarding health benefits, though POM typically supplies the juice to the investigators of the study. In 2013 FTC commissioners denied the Resnicks appeal. Dedicated to innovation and wellness, POM Wonderful has invested $34 million in pomegranate research, particularly focusing on its prostate and cardiovascular health benefits. It was founded in 2002 by the billionaire industrial agriculture couple Stewart and Lynda Rae Resnick. Her again. Michael Aviram, Ds.C., a cholesterol researcher at Rambam Medical Center, in Haifa, Israel, defended his studies on pomegranates -- many of them funded by POM -- by noting that they were published in "very prestigious peer reviewed journals," including the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Atherosclerosis. Drinks such as POM have become increasingly popular with consumers in recent years, thanks in part to public health campaigns against soda that have been prompted by the obesity epidemic. A 2007 study found that research on health drinks that was funded entirely by beverage companies was between four and eight times more likely to find a favorable result than research with no industry support. One type regards the proposed health benefits of pomegranate juice, the other type regards chemical analysis and bio-availability of pomegranate extracts and supplements. POM competes in the pomegranate-blueberry juice market with the Coca-Cola Company. The company is private and does not disclose revenue, profits, or funding totals. renowned for their unique combination of ruby-red color, delicious taste and antioxidants. We grow, harvest, bottle, package, and market a diverse range of products, including fruits, nuts, flowers, water, wines and juices. Nevertheless, POM Wonderful stated that their animal tests were "helping to save human lives" and could have benefited its customers. [29][30] FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez agreed with the Supreme Court's decision by stating: "I am pleased that the POM Wonderful case has been brought to a successful conclusion. from eating pomegranates. The makers of POM Wonderful have spent $34 million on scientific research on POM products and pomegranates. Whereas other pomegranate juices are a mix of import products from pomegranates from Iran . Have you seen those strange Wonderful Pistachio commercials with celebrities like Charlie Sheen, Dennis Rodman, and Stephen Colbert? "Once I learned they were really just cleverly marketed sugar waters, I stopped.". The couple funded a series. Join over 40,000 of your peers who receive regular updates on Fundable, crowdfunding, and starting a business. "The same is true with nutrition research, but the stakes are higher because we're putting our bodies at risk.". [22], The May 22, 2012 Administrative Law Judge upheld two of POM's positions: (1) any FDA pre-approval requirement "would constitute unnecessary overreaching" and that (2) more stringent double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies were not necessary. The bottom line is that consumers shouldn't believe everything they read on labels. [32][33] The case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided in June 2014 that a lawsuit for false advertising claims could be pursued against Coca-Cola, saying "Competitors may bring Lanham Act claims like POM's challenging food and beverage labels regulated by the FDCA. Stewart Resnick, who survived. [2] In 2010, the company was warned by the FDA for making false health claims and for marketing statements that promoted their products as unauthorized drugs. The outcome of this case makes clear that companies like POM making serious health claims about food and nutritional supplement products must have rigorous scientific evidence to back them up. Steven Clark, vice president of corporate communications for The Wonderful Company, saidin a statement Monday afternoon thatPOM Wonderful is committed to honest, transparent communication with consumers everywhere, pointing to the fact that the FTC questioned just 36 of the companys about 600 ads. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. Check out the new Startups.com - A Comprehensive Startup University. Stewart told Forbes in the fallthatthe company was expecting to soon release positive results from human trials. Circuit last Friday largely upheld the Federal Trade Commission's ("FTC") ruling that POM Wonderful, Inc. violated the Federal Trade Commission Act by . We continue to stand behind our efforts to publicly convey valuable information about the health benefits of POM, as well as the $40 million in peer-reviewed, scientific research weve conducted regarding the power of this amazing fresh fruit, he said. I am pleased that the POM Wonderful case has been brought to a successful conclusion, Ramirez said. POM Wonderful, the 100% pomegranate juice sold by, the billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick. drinks 8 ounces of POM Wonderful and takes a pomegranate pill every day. VitaminWater, kombucha tea, coconut water, and various brands of juice drinks made from acai, goji berry, and mangosteen have all used health claims in their marketing -- and some, like POM, have been the subject of scrutiny and legal action. 1995: Resnick purchases a pistachio orchard and discovers pomegranates on the property.1996: Resnick, captivated by pomegranate folk lore, commissions $25 Million of medical research on the health benefits of the pomegranate.2000: Research shows positive results.2002: Resnick launches Pom Wonderful into stores.2003: The company grows from $12 Million to $91 Million.2007: The company hits $165 Million in revenue. 9344, In the Matter of Pom Wonderful LLC and Roll Global LLC, and Stewart A. Resnick, Lynda Rae Resnick, and Matthew Tupper, Respondents", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=POM_Wonderful&oldid=1103211380, Privately held companies based in California, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Fruit juices, tea, dietary supplements, fresh pomegranates, This page was last edited on 8 August 2022, at 20:32. But the fact is, even when people don't buy the health claims they often still buy the beverage. fig.16, at 3. The best Instagram photos from 2014, After IVF shock, mom gives birth to two sets of identical twins, Inside North Korea: Water park, sacred birth site and some minders, Consumers shouldn't believe everything they read on labels, The FTC and FDA have been cracking down on unsubstantiated health claims, Though many health claims strain imagination, they still sell food and beverages, These claims distract shoppers from the real nutritional information. [36], "Judge: POM deceptively marketed juice"; Associated Press, May 22, 2012, "POM Wonderful loses bid to tout health benefits in drink ads"; Reuters, January 30, 2015.
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