SCOTUS Denies Cert. in POM Wonderful Health Claims Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied certiorari in a Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) lawsuit against POM Wonderful LLC and Roll Global
LLC alleging the companies made false or misleading health claims about
their pomegranate-derived products. POM Wonderful LLC v. FTC, No.
15-525 (U.S., certiorari denied May 2, 2016). The U.S. Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia previously upheld a Commission decision
finding POM misled consumers by claiming its products treat, prevent
or reduce the risk of heart disease and prostate cancer, with some claims
purported to be supported by clinical studies.

“I am pleased that the POM Wonderful case has been brought to a
successful conclusion,” FTC Chair Edith Ramirez said in a May 2, 2016,
press release. “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.
Consumers deserve no less.”

Issue 603