The manufacturers of Cold-fX are in court today fighting more than just the common cold. Valean Pharmaceuticals is opposing an application in the B.C. Supreme Court to grant class-action lawsuits, such as the one claimed by Vancouver resident, Don Harrison.
Back in 2012, Harrison challenged Valean and subsidiary Afexa Life Sciences over Cold-fX's “immediate relief of cold and flu” claim.
In 2004, the company's own research reportedly proved this statement to be false, with the natural cold relief product having only a placebo effect unless taken for two- to six-month periods.
Despite the findings of its study, Valeant went on to “knowingly or recklessly” promote the product, claims Harrison, posing potential health risks and adverse side effects to consumers.
“The gist of the case is that people paid money for a worthless product ... and the money they spent should be returned,” said Harrison’s lawyer, John Green.
It reads like alleged false advertising, yet the claims have yet to be proven in court.
Meantime, a further lawsuit has been filed in Saskatchewan. If the people get their way, Valean may be forced to refund customers to the tune of $500 million.
Whether the class action gets the green light or not, this remains an important case for Canadians.
As consumers, we need to know that companies are held accountable for their wares - and natural health companies are no exception. I wonder if cases like this - and the recent allegations about the Honest Company - will make consumers skeptical of the efficacity of natural products in general.
Whether it's a cold remedy or a detergent, we need to be able to trust that what we are buying is the genuine article. That kind of consumer transparency should be a right, not a bonus.
Bottom line: companies should not be able to intentionally mislead the public and get away with it.
RELATED: Claims of Chemicals in Honest Company Product 
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