Mommy Alert! Airborne Is a Fraud

March 5, 2008

Airborne, the effervescent health formula said to boost a person's immunity is a fraud.

A CNN article reported that the company, started by a teacher will have to pay $23.3 million to settle the class action lawsuit brought against it for false advertising.

The piece said:

"There's no credible evidence that what's in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment," said CSPI Senior nutritionist David Schardt. "Airborne is basically on overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that's been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed."

Many parents swore by the pills believing they fended off illness — were you one of them?

28 Comments

3 years 13 weeks

mind over matter besides meds do not treat or fix a condition it only masks it and makes it worse because as time goes by the condition gets worse you just dont know because meds are masking it. Better off with natural resources like your herbs fruits veggies and so on. Im not a all natural freak its just true.

3 years 32 weeks

I usually load up on vitamin C during flu season, or if I've knowingly been exposed to someone with any type of virus; however, today, I tried Airborne - I'll keep you posted. I just want to offer that I read and highly suggest taking all vitamins with food. Not only will this help your body absorb the vitamins effectively, it will also help eliminate an upset stomach they can sometimes cause. That's too bad about the lawsuit, I personally think there wasn't anything there to be upset about - someone was really looking for something! ~Best of health to all!

3 years 35 weeks

A virus is running threw my house right now. All 3 kids got it, my husband is starting to get it and my throat is a little sore today and sinus burning too. I just took airborne for the first time about 10 min ago. Lets see if it helps. I will keep everyone posted. Oh yeah, I am def a fan of emergen-c. never tried zicam. And no, the teacher should not have been sued. That's ridiculous

4 years 3 days

I believe Airborne works. It's full of nothing but vitamins and minerals which would definitely have to boost your immune system! I can't believe this lawsuit was won. Vitamin C alone will boost your immune system and help avoid a cold or infection, it only stands to reason that Airborne would do the same, and that is the only claim it makes! This is outrageous just like everything else people want to attack, and then there's always the people who buy into all the bullcrap that they hear instead of researching the truth

Farott 5 years 10 weeks

I never really thought this stuff worked but my mother loves it because my Aunt (a veterinarian into chinese herbal medicine) swears by it because supposedly it is almost the same as a chinese remedy she uses. If you ask me, it is no more or less effective than any other vitamin on the market.

RickCain 5 years 10 weeks

Zicam makes you lose your sense of smell. There's been lawsuits over it. Hundreds of people have reported near to total smell loss, be warned. At least the worthless vitamins don't hurt you like Zicam does.

AKirstin 5 years 11 weeks

I heard years ago that it had been discredited. ? Anyway, I never tried it, I don't bother with this stuff. If you want to avoid sickness, get a neti pot. :D

oh cecilia baby 5 years 11 weeks

i mean, i'm not really surprised either. but to go as far as having a lawsuit against it? naaah

meko01 5 years 11 weeks

The only time that I have ever taken this was when I was starting to feel run down and everyone one around me was sick. I figured a little extra Vitamin C couldn't hurt. I didn't really like the way that it tastes so I don't use it often not if there is a lot of sick people around me I take some Vitamin C tabs. I don't see how taking this or drinking a lot of juice is any different. Basically I think that Airborne is just a way of giving your body some more vitamins to help you stay healthy a bit longer. I think to sue is silly. There are a lot more things on the market that give false advertising.

ytw 5 years 11 weeks

I use this and generally like it, but I realize what it is: vitamins, minerals, and herbs. If you really want to prevent illnesses like cold and flu, wash your hands a lot.

YMO 5 years 11 weeks

I felt a tickle in my throat when getting off a plane, took this and it never developed into anything more. I felt a similar tickle on another flight, just drunk orange juice and ended up with a sore throat and congestion. I'll have to try Zicam as well, but for me I don't see deceptive about airborne.

mollyparnis 5 years 11 weeks

People have to remember that this is a class action lawsuit (the ambulance chasing wing of the legal industry). My husband and I have used Airborne for years and it has stopped many a cold dead in it's tracks or at the very least lessoned the symptoms. I plan to continuing buying and using it!

Berlin 5 years 11 weeks

Well Duh! Anyone who actually reads it can tell it's just a stupid "immune booster" that does nothing more than provide the same effects as regular vitamins...people need to read what they are taking!

bluesarahlou 5 years 11 weeks

Jess...I didn't say this product should be used as a REPLACEMENT for the standard vitamin supplement :) Maybe I didn't explain my thoughts clearly. I don't see anything wrong with taking Airborne, regardless of the lawsuit. As long as you use it for what it is intended to be used for. The product was designed to boost your system with extra vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C and Zinc (which your body does need) when you feel yourself getting sick, or when you're in an environment where you could get sick. That's not new science. The idea that Vitamin C and Zinc help your body fight off a cold has been around for a long time. And this may have changed since the lawsuit...but their website clearly states the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease". Which I think is a no-brainer.

lickety split 5 years 11 weeks

we bought some but never used it. the bax says "dietary supplement" and "created by a school teacher who was sick of getting sick in the classroom". i take that as "this is stuff that's good for you. if you take it when you think your immune system needs a boost it could help". with all the things out there that are frauds, odd to think they would choose this to go to the mat over. i'm keeping our box, lol. won't hurt anything. we use this stuff i get at the whole foods check out counter (which of course i can't find now) that looks like pop rocks. it comes in little tubes and you disolve them on your tounge. it's called something like "osceila". ayway, works great.

JessNess 5 years 11 weeks

using it to get your body the vitamins and minerals it needs This is a not a vitamin and mineral supplement and should not be taken as one

DreaAST 5 years 11 weeks

I believe this stuff works!!!!

LiLRuck44 5 years 11 weeks

"False advertising" and "no credible evidence" more acurately describes almost all pharmaceuticals on the market today. Sadly they attack dietary supplements and vitamins instead...

CJaneTyp 5 years 11 weeks

I've definitely used it in the past- but I switched to Emergen-C a long time ago because it's a lot cheaper, especially on drugstore.com. Zicam works- I think. I work in a very germy day care environment and I throw some Zicam in my nose whenever I feel anything coming on. About the Zicam I would say that the nose stuff works better than any other version.

bluesarahlou 5 years 11 weeks

I'm not sure I agree with the headline Sugar...If you read the article it states that they changed their marketing campaign...and regardless of what the lawsuit says, Airborne is still a dietary supplement (much like Emergen-C)...so I don't see the harm in using it to get your body the vitamins and minerals it needs.

AliCherri1 5 years 11 weeks

Well I personally think it tastes gross - it makes me nauseated. Now I'll have a better excuse when ppl try to push it on me :)

GirlC 5 years 11 weeks

I've used it when flying and *think* it works. I used to get sick but don't now that I use it :ponder:

Phasekitty 5 years 11 weeks

I know lots of people that swear by this, but I was never a fan. I use Coldeeze with Zinc and Emergen-C. I find these work pretty well, but next time I'm feeling under the weather I'm definitely trying out this Zicam stuff.

jennifer76 5 years 11 weeks

I know a lot of people who swear by it. The only time I've ever seen it in action, my husband took it because he felt the flu coming on. Then promptly puked. lol

JessNess 5 years 11 weeks

Its all a placebo effect from advertising. The pill is basically Vitamin C which you can get anywhere and for a lot less.

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