Airborne maker to settle with 32 states on its claims

The maker of Airborne dietary supplements has agreed to pay $7 million to settle allegations by 32 states that it made false claims about the benefits of its fruit-flavored products.

Under the settlement, Airborne Health agreed to discontinue any claims about the “health benefit, performance, efficacy or safety” of its supplements in preventing and treating colds and other ailments.

This year, the company agreed to pay $30 million to settle nearly identical allegations stemming from a class-action lawsuit brought by consumers and the Federal Trade Commission.

The Bonita Springs, Fla., company markets a line of water-dissolving tablets that are sold in pharmacies and grocery stores nationwide.

The company’s website says Airborne supplements “support your immune system through its blend of vitamins and minerals.”

In a statement issued Tuesday, Airborne said the agreement “will have no impact on our products or on the ability of consumers to buy them, because it deals with language that had already been dropped from our advertising and labeling.”

Airborne admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement.

California will receive $460,000 under the settlement, Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown said.