Additional Information for Canadian Extracts

BBB files indicate that this business has a pattern of complaints concerning billing and advertising issues. Specifically, consumers allege that they signed up for a free trial and later discovered unexpected and/or unauthorized charges on their credit cards. According to complaints filed with BBB, consumers are prompted to sign up for the trial through advertisements which indicate they only need to pay for shipping. Complaints suggest that the advertising was misleading and did not disclose that they were signing up for a subscription service or that their credit cards would be automatically billed.

On November 11, 2020, BBB submitted a written request to the company encouraging them to address the pattern of complaints. BBB is awaiting a response.

The BBB urges consumers to read all the terms and conditions of an offer before proceeding.

On October 15, 2020, BBB contacted the business regarding its advertising of free trial periods of its products.

Consumers that sign up for the free trial period are enrolled in a monthly subscription for additional products. BBB requested the business substantiate that the claims meet the standards outlined in BBB's Code of Advertising (Section 18, Negative Option Plans, Continuity Plans and Automatic Shipments). The Code maintains that "Any advertisement for a product or service that includes an offer to sell or provide consumers with additional goods or services under a negative option feature must include a clear and conspicuous disclosure of all material terms of the negative option feature." Material terms that should be clear and conspicuous include the existence of the negative option feature, the cost of the additional goods or services, how consumers can cancel and avoid future shipments and charges, and how consumers can return items that they do not want. The Code continues that "advertisers must avoid making disclosures that are vague, unnecessarily long or which contain contradictory language."

Additionally, BBB asked the company to substantiate claims made on its website about the efficacy or results of using the company's products. These claims include, but are not limited to:

"Recover Arthritis, Muscle Strain, Stiff Joints, Achy Hands, Knees, Fingers. It will ease muscle soreness and stiffness, relieve dull joint pain, and soothe a sunburn."

"Can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as prevent signs of aging from developing. The linoleic acid and oleic acids found in hemp oil can't be produced by the body but can play a crucial role in skin health and anti-aging, so they're important nutrients to add to the diet."

BBB requested the business substantiate the claims per standards outlined in BBB's Code of Advertising (Section 34, Claimed Results). Claims as to efficacy or results which will be obtained by or realized from a particular product should be based on recent and competent scientific or other objective data. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate such claims.

The business did not respond to BBB's request for substantiation.

The BBB Code of Advertising may be viewed by using the following link: BBB Code of Advertising

For reference, the specific sections are:

18. Negative Option Plans, Continuity Plans and Automatic Shipments
34. Claimed Results