Latest news with #NationalAdvertisingDivision
Business Upturn
30-04-2025
- Health
- Business Upturn
National Advertising Division Recommends Oral Essentials Discontinue 'Microbiome Safe' Claim for Lumineux Mouthwash
New York, NY , April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge brought by competitor GuruNanda, LLC, BBB National Programs' National Advertising Division recommended that Oral Essentials, Inc. discontinue the claim that its Lumineux mouthwash products are 'Microbiome Safe.' Fast-Track SWIFT is an expedited challenge process designed for single-issue advertising cases brought to the National Advertising Division (NAD). To back its 'microbiome safe' claim, Oral Essentials submitted an in vitro study examining the effect of four mouthwash variants on five prominent species of bacteria linked to plaque, gingivitis, and cavities. The study reported the use of mouthwash did not decrease the population of any of the five strains of bacteria. NAD found the in vitro study was not a good fit to support the challenged claim. In this study, only five out of the numerous species of bacteria in the mouth were tested, which is insufficient to support a claim that the product is safe for the entire microbiome. NAD also questioned the in vitro study's real-world relevance to consumer use and noted that although the study concluded that there was '[n]o decrease' for every strain of bacteria tested, the numbers reveal that some strains did see a decrease in population. NAD therefore concluded that Oral Essentials has not met its burden of providing a reasonable basis for the claim that its mouthwash products are 'Microbiome Safe' and recommended the challenged claim be discontinued. In its advertiser statement, Oral Essentials stated, 'As a strong supporter of NAD, Oral Essentials will follow NAD's recommendations.' All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. Per NAD/NARB Procedures, this release may not be used for promotional purposes. About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than 20 globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create fair competition for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and promoting fair competition for business. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airbnb Wins Claim Against Vrbo for Nick Saban Commercials
Vrbo needs to modify or take down its Nick Saban commercials after Airbnb won a challenge against the campaign with the BBB's National Advertising Division. That division found that the campaign falsely "conveys the message that Vrbo competitors, like Airbnb, always require cohabitation with hosts," according to a National Advertising Division announcement. It said the claim is unsupported and called on Vrbo to remove the "host-free" claim in the commercials or change it. The Vrbo commercials – called "Rules" and "Host" – stated: "When other vacation rentals make you share your turf with a host, try one you have all to yourself." The commercials feature the former University of Alabama football coach talking about all the things guests supposedly can't do in a rental when a host is present: Taking showers longer than five minutes, for example, or using streaming services. They attempted to take a shot at Airbnb Rooms, which are shared stays with hosts. The BBB's National Advertising Division felt the ad went too far in implying that all Airbnb stays have a host present, which they don't. "We're pleased with the NAD decision," an Airbnb spokesperson said Tuesday. Both the "Rules" and "Host" commercials debuted on August 31, 2024, and are still airing today, according to a spokesperson for "Rules" ran most frequently during college football games, followed by men's college basketball and NFL games. In November, Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin told investors and analysts that the campaign was effective. "We have this great marketing campaign with Nick Saban in the last couple of months," Gorin said. "Perhaps people saw it. It was a great-performing campaign and drove a lot of conversion." Vrbo said in a statement to the advertising division that it "will comply with NAD's recommendation" and that it "thanks the National Advertising Division for its prompt review of the matter." As of Tuesday afternoon, both of the Vrbo commercials with the disputed language were available in Vrbo's YouTube channel. A National Advertising Division spokesperson said "we expect reasonably prompt compliance." Vrbo also has put up billboards, including one near Airbnb headquarters in San Francisco. In one case, it has the line, "What do you call an Airbnb without a host? — Vrbo." The National Advertising Division recommended that Vrbo discontinue the billboard campaign or modify the language. A second billboard says that Vrbo is "Airbnb's hotter, cooler, friendlier, long-lost twin that never has hosts." The National Advertising Division did not rule in favor of Airbnb for that one. It said that it "accurately conveys that Vrbo only offers rental options that are not shared by a guest with a host." Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at
News18
24-04-2025
- Business
- News18
Apple Takes Down 'Available Now' Tag After Delaying AI Features For iPhone Users
Last Updated: Apple has confirmed its AI Siri delay to 2026 and some of the features are yet to fully launch in the market for iPhone users which means the marketing needs to tone down. Apple faces long delays with its AI features and the Siri upgrades so now the company is being order to remove any statement related to its AI tools from the website. The brand has marketed the Apple Intelligence features on its platform with the 'available now," tag but now has taken it down following a recommendation from the National Advertising Division (NAD). The advertising watchdog found that Apple's marketing materials, released alongside the iPhone 16 last year deceives the consumer who believe that all AI features were immediately accessible. Apple 'reasonably conveyed the message" that features such as Priority Notifications, Genmoji, Image Playground, and ChatGPT integration were fully available at launch. And the NAD has now advised Apple to 'discontinue or modify" these claims. More AI Delay But Ads Continue In response, Apple quietly removed the assertion from its Apple Intelligence page last month, as confirmed by an archived version of the URL. More importantly, Apple has cancelled its 'More Personal Siri" TV ad, in which actress Bella Ramsey showcased unreleased AI-enhanced Siri features. In March, the company declared that these particular Siri enhancements would not be made until 'the coming year." 'While these features are now available, NAD recommended Apple avoid conveying the message that features are available when they are not," the watchdog said in a press release. The organisation also came across that Apple's footnotes on feature availability were 'neither sufficiently clear and conspicuous, nor close to the triggering claims." Further marketing changes have been made by Apple, which has changed its Apple Intelligence tagline to 'AI for the rest of us" and introduced new ads that highlight services that are already available, such as 'Clean Up," which can remove undesired objects from images. Reports claim, Apple will abide by the watchdog's recommendations even though it disagreed with the watchdog's conclusions about features that are now accessible. Most of the Apple AI features revealed at the WWDC 2024 last year are available by default on the new iPhone models while the iPhone 15 Pro models got it via the latest iOS update. First Published:
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Apple removes ‘Available Now' from Apple Intelligence page on website
Apple has removed the listing for Apple Intelligence features from its website including a banner saying, 'Available Now.' The move follows an inquiry made by the National Advertising Division, or NAD, a nonprofit that monitors advertising campaigns for truth and accuracy. A new report from 9to5Mac stated that NAD found Apple's ad to be misleading and recommended that it 'discontinue or modify' the 'Available Now' claim. In a note published later, NAD said that while Apple had rolled out Apple Intelligence features gradually from between October last year and March this year, the claims weren't true when they had been made. It added that disclosures made by Apple in the footnotes weren't entirely clear either. Apple also told NAD that its revamped Siri which had been advertised, had been delayed. Additionally, the hardware company has added a note at the bottom of its Siri updates clarifying that the feature is still in development and 'will be available with a future software update.' The iPhone maker also discontinued a video advertising campaign for Siri featuring actor Bella Ramsey. Apple also responded to NAD's suggestions saying although they didn't agree with the report, they were willing to follow their recommendations.
India Today
23-04-2025
- India Today
Apple quietly drops available now tag from Apple Intelligence after ad watchdog inquiry
Apple has quietly removed the "available now" label from its Apple Intelligence promotional page in the US after a formal review by the National Advertising Division (NAD) raised concerns about misleading claims. The NAD, a self-regulatory body that monitors the truthfulness of advertising in the US, found that the phrase gave consumers the impression that all features of Apple Intelligence were already accessible, which wasn't the AI suite, introduced alongside iOS 18.1 in October, promised a range of features like Genmoji, Image Playground, Priority Notifications, and Siri's ChatGPT integration. While Apple did roll out some of these features during the initial update, several major capabilities were staggered across later iOS versions — with some still not available. For instance, the more personalised version of Siri, which was showcased by Apple, is now expected to arrive sometime this "available now" label was originally placed prominently on the Apple Intelligence webpage, accompanied by a footnote clarifying that some features would be released gradually. However, the NAD concluded that this disclaimer wasn't clear or visible enough, and therefore didn't effectively correct the misleading impression created by the headline. In its recommendation, the NAD asked Apple to either change or drop the wording to avoid confusion. Apple, while disagreeing with the NAD's assessment that the label was inaccurate, said it appreciated the feedback and has since updated its promotional material accordingly. The company also removed a video titled "More Personal Siri" that highlighted features not yet we disagree with the NAD's findings related to features that are available to users now, we appreciate the opportunity to work with them and will follow their recommendations," Apple said in the press versions of Apple's site, captured by the Wayback Machine, show the removal of the "available now" text on March 31. The NAD has confirmed that the advertising claims on the updated page are now in line with its guidelines. While NAD recommendations aren't legally binding, most major brands choose to comply to maintain public trust and avoid possible escalation to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
