Supplement Maker Settles Case on Liver Disease Claims

The maker of Liverite dietary supplements is settling federal charges that it falsely claimed its products could work wonders, from preventing such serious liver diseases as cirrhosis and hepatitis to curing hangovers.

Liverite Products Inc., based in Tustin, Calif., and four people who run the company and developed its Web sites will pay $60,000 and be prohibited from making such claims in the future without scientific evidence, according to the settlement announced Tuesday by the Federal Trade Commission.

On its Web sites and product packaging, and in radio and print advertisements, the company falsely claimed clinical tests proved Liverite products are “the ultimate liver aid,” the FTC said. The advertisements said the products would prevent and treat hangovers and alcohol-induced liver diseases and would alleviate the toxic side effects of various drugs, such as painkillers, allergy medications, immunosuppressants and anabolic steroids.

The company used sophisticated technology to draw people to its Web sites, the government said. When people searched for health information online using such search terms as AIDS, hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver disease, hidden pieces of text called metatags would send them to the Liverite sites.

While agreeing to the settlement, the company does not admit wrongdoing.

Liverite Products said in a statement that it disagrees with some of the FTC’s claims but made a “prudent business decision” to settle and to change its advertising. Clinical studies to test claims about the product will continue, it said.

“We will endeavor to continue working with the FTC to ensure that only scientifically substantiated claims are made and to ensure that consumers are properly informed,” the statement said.