Acai Berry Investigation Involving Improper Credit Card Charges, Weight Loss Claims
March 23, 2009

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced an investigation into the business practices and questionable science associated with Acai berry products - primarily pitched by Internet-based companies as a wonder treatment for weight-loss.

Blumenthal's office has received numerous consumer complaints related to Acai berry purchases, and is investigating with other states.

There is no competent scientific research that demonstrates any of the claimed effects of Acai berry, including weight loss, detoxification and increased energy and vitality, Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal said various companies selling Acai berry products - in addition to bogus weight loss claims - have improperly charged consumer credit cards.

After promising 14 day "free trials" of Acai berry products, the companies often make it virtually impossible for consumers to cancel the trial, resulting in charges to consumer credit cards ranging anywhere from $59 to $89.

Even worse, some consumers never even receive the product within the trial period - making it impossible to try the product before deciding whether to cancel.

"There are no magical berries from the Brazilian rainforest that cure obesity - only painfully real credit card charges and empty weight loss promises," Blumenthal said.
"Aggressive Acai berry pitches on the Internet entice countless consumers into free trials promising weight loss, energy and detoxification. These claims are based on folklore, traditional remedies and outright fabrications - unproven by real scientific evidence.

"In reality, consumers lose more money than weight after free trials transition into inescapable charges. We will investigate these allegedly misleading or deceptive nutrition and health claims and take action under our consumer protection statutes - as we have done with other food products. As problematic as the berries are the bills.

"Supposedly free online product offers commonly entail costs. These false celebrity endorsements and fake blogs show the dark side of online marketing."

David Schardt, senior nutritionist for Center for Science in the Public Interest, said, "If Bernard Madoff were in the food business, he'd be offering 'free' trials of açai-based weight-loss products. Law enforcement has yet to catch up to these rogue operators. Until they do, consumers have to protect themselves."

Source - http://www.ct.gov

Here is another article:

Attorney General's News Release
March 26, 2009

Koster warns consumers of deceptive internet business practices associated with Acai berry products
Jefferson City, Mo.

Attorney General Chris Koster is alerting consumers to beware of internet businesses advertising free trial offers for Acai berry products and other nutritional supplements. Koster warns that responding to these "free" offers on the internet poses a substantial risk of excessive charges.

Companies entice consumers by offering a 14 day free trial of the product. According to the offer, unless you notify the company that you do not want to continue to receive the product, and return it during the trial period, it will automatically be sent and charged to you.

Consumers are complaining that companies are impossible to contact for a cancellation both during and after the trial period, and their credit cards are automatically charged for an additional month's supply that can cost $80 or more.

"Most of the benefits from these free supplement offers go to the scam artists in the form of healthy incomes at the expense of unsuspecting shoppers," Koster said. "Free offers are a common tactic used by unscrupulous businesses, and should send up a red flag to consumers."

Source - http://ago.mo.gov