An advertising industry group said Thursday that a line of children’s cough products should cease claims that it relieves sore throats or cold symptoms.
The National Advertising Division–an industry regulatory agency administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus–investigated Prestige Brands Holdings’ Little Remedies products following a complaint by Pfizer. The pharmaceutical giant challenged claims by Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup, Little Remedies Honey Pops and Little Remedies Cough and Immune Support.
NAD investigators found that although Prestige could reasonably claim that honey soothes coughs, those effects could not be applied to sore throats or colds and recommended that Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup discontinue those claims.
The other two Little Remedies, the NAD ruled, were not “essentially” honey and should not claim to soothe throats or coughs.
The division, however, did not find the brand name Little Remedies misleading.
Prestige, in a statement on the NAD report, took issue with some of its findings but said it would consider the recommendations in future labeling revisions.
