Another government official acknowledged that the Internet was a powerful medium that can provide easy access to information about diseases and their treatments, but noted that it also allows promoters of fraudulent health products easy access to consumers from all over the world. The sheer number of Web sites selling health-related products is huge, and there simply aren't enough government attorneys to challenge all of them. But it's clear that health-related fraud on the Internet is a high priority for the FTC and the states. Anyone who makes false or unsubstantiated claims that a dietary supplement, drug, or device treats arthritis or reduces the risk of cancer or heart disease does so at his or her peril. The number of Web sites devoted to vitamins, herbal products, and other dietary supplements has exploded.
Nutritional supplements are everywhere on the Web.
New scientific research and changes in government regulation have left many supplement marketers uncertain about what they can and can't say in their advertising. As noted above, the government is ready to pounce on marketers who step over the line, but many people are unsure of just where that line is. That guide identifies the questions that you need to answer before you advertise those products. One thing the guide does make clear is that the FTC may take action against anyone who participates directly or indirectly in the creation or dissemination of deceptive or unsubstantiated advertising. This means that not only the supplement manufacturers who are the source of such claims, but also the ad agencies, retailers, catalog companies and other third parties who pass the claims on may be held responsible.