HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A company that claimed it could help people stop smoking in seven days has reached an agreement with 12 states to stop making misleading statements and pay them a total of $65,000.

The states challenged Oxyfresh Worldwide Inc.'s claims that its seven-day, anti-smoking system could treat, cure or prevent nicotine addiction. ``It's our contention that these claims along with other alleged benefits were both unbelievable and unsubstantiated,'' Pennsylvania Attorney General Mike Fisher said Tuesday. Oxyfresh, based in Spokane, Wash., entered into the agreement to resolve claims that its advertisements violated federal food and drug laws as well as states' consumer protection laws. The company stopped selling the product after the states began investigating its claims in 1997. The advertisements, which appeared in print and on the Internet, promoted Oxyfresh's $179, five-part program, ``Easy Quit Smokers Support System.'' The program consists mostly of a regimen of herbal capsules, audiotapes and ``aromatherapy support.'' A company spokeswoman did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Tuesday. Under the agreement, Oxyfresh admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to stop selling any smoking-cessation product that does not comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements. In addition, the company agreed to stop making any misleading statements and to pay the states a total of $65,000. In addition to Pennsylvania, states involved in the agreement are: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Tennessee, Washington State and Wisconsin.

<< Prev	CIGoutlet.NET News Home	Next >>