TINA.org (TruthinAdvertising.org) is an independent, non-profit, advertising
watchdog
Watchdog or watch dog may refer to:
Animals
*Guard dog, a dog that barks to alert its owners of an intruder's presence
* Portuguese Watch Dog, Cão de Castro Laboreiro, a dog breed
* Moscow Watchdog, a breed of dog that was bred in the Soviet ...
organization. TINA.org was founded in 2012 and received its initial funding from
Karen Pritzker
Karen L. Pritzker (born 1958) is a documentary film producer, investor, and philanthropist. She is a member of the Pritzker family, the granddaughter of A.N. Pritzker and daughter of Robert Pritzker."A New Connecticut-Based Website Works to Uncover False Advertising" , Gregory B. Hlady, CT.com, April 3, 2013 TINA.org is headed by Bonnie Patten, who has served as its Executive Director since its founding.
Legal efforts and investigative journalism
On March 28, 2013, TINA.org took action against NourishLife, LLC after finding that the company was using a number of deceptive marketing tactics to sell a potentially harmful supplement for children with
speech delay
Speech delay, also known as alalia, refers to a delay in the development or use of the mechanisms that produce speech. Speech – as distinct from language – is the actual process of making sounds, using such organs and structures as the lung ...
s. The organization sent legal complaint letters to the company’s CEO as well as to the
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. The FTC shares jurisdiction ov ...
(FTC), the
Food and Drug Administration
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respon ...
, and the
Illinois Attorney General
The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by statewide election. Based in Chicago and Springfield, Illinois, the attorney ...
, urging each of them to take action. On August 14, 2013, the National Advertising Division of the
Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization founded in 1912. BBB's self-described mission is to focus on advancing marketplace trust, consisting of 97 independently incorporated local BBB organizations in the Unite ...
recommended that the company discontinue and amend certain claims used to market the product. The company has since corrected its website and has begun amending its product packaging.
TINA.org’s investigation and criticism of
Vemma
Vemma () Nutrition Company was a privately held multi-level marketing company that sold dietary supplements. The company was shut down in 2015 by the Federal Trade Commission, FTC for engaging in deceptive practices and pyramid scheme, pyramid sc ...
, which makes the energy drink Verve and enlists students ostensibly to sell its products, has been cited and quoted in ''New York Post'' articles that raised questions about whether Vemma is running a legitimate multi-level marketing business or an illegal pyramid scheme. A subsequent class-action lawsuit against Vemma cited TINA.org's reporting of numerous complaints about Vemma that have been submitted to the FTC.
In 2017, Truth in Advertising investigated
Goop
Goop may refer to:
*Alfons Goop (1910–1993), Liechtenstein Nazi leader
*'' Goops'', a 1900 book series by Gelett Burgess
* Shoe Goo or Sportsman's Goop, a brand of waterproof seam-sealer
*''Goop'', a brand of liquid hand cleaner containing finely ...
and accused the company of making deceptive health claims about the products they sell.
On May 5, 2019, Truth in Advertising filed a complaint with the FTC regarding
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an American publicly traded consumer retail company that sells kitchenware and home furnishings. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States. The company has 625 brick and mortar stores and distribute ...
’s continued use of false
Made in the USA
A Made in USA mark is a country of origin label affixed to homegrown, American-made products that indicates the product is "all or virtually all" domestically produced, manufactured and assembled in the United States of America. The label is reg ...
marketing. In March 2020, the FTC announced a settlement with Williams-Sonoma. The company has agreed to stop making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated ‘Made in the USA’ claims and is required to pay $1 million to the FTC.
On November 12, 2019, Truth in Advertising filed complaints against Neurocore, a "brain training" company backed by Education Secretary
Betsy DeVos
Elisabeth Dee DeVos ( ; ' Prince; born January 8, 1958) is an American politician, philanthropist, and former government official who served as the 11th United States secretary of education from 2017 to 2021. DeVos is known for her support for ...
. TINA's two complaints were with the Food and Drug Administration for unapproved medical devices and the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive marketing.