Pomegranate Juice Sucks says FTC

Almost on a weekly basis, exotic juices are hyped up to cure every medical disease underneath the sun. For the past few years, people have been drinking gallons of pomegranate juice in the hope of curing arthritis, getting rid of the wrinkles and or preventing the common cold. In fact, most health food stores have been selling pomegranate juices with labels that it can cure heart disease, prevent prostate cancer and even potentiate erections. 

So is pomegranate juice the magic bullet for all of our health problems?

The federal trade commission says pomegranate juice is tasty but it is not buying all the B.S. medical claims made by the manufacturers of this exotic colorful juice.

"Contrary to POM Wonderful advertising, the available scientific information does not prove that POM Juice or POMx effectively treats or prevents these illnesses, When a company touts scientific research in its advertising, the research must squarely support the claims made." said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The FTC has filed a complaint against POM Wonderful alleging that the juice maker has been making "false and unsubstantiated claims" about their pomegranate-based products, which also includes other pomegranate products like iced teas, POMx pills and nutrition/energy bars. Pomegranate products are heavily marketed and can be purchased online and in retail stores.

In its complaint, the FTC has mentioned that there is no scientific study that backs the claims made by POM. In fact, one of the studies presented by POM even showed that the health benefits of pomegranate were no better than a sugar pill.

This is not the only encounter FTC has had with POM wonderful. In Feb. 2010, The FDA sent an unsympathetic word of warning to the company for serious abuse of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, stating that, "The therapeutic claims on your website establish that the product is a drug because it is intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. The marketing of this product with these claims violates the Act."

So for all you juice fanatics, there is nothing wrong in drinking pomegranate juice. However, if you are consuming this juice for prevention or cure of any medical disease, think again. You may just as well drink urine- because the medical benefits from both “juices” are the same-but the urine is free.