Test-Aankoop combats ads for crash diets
Belgium’s consumer rights organisation Test-Aankoop has launched a campaign to make the public aware of the dangers – and ultimate failure – of weight-loss products that promise fast results
Consumers can post ads to Facebook page
Test-Ankoop points out that the European Union legislation prohibits making promises about the speed and extent of weight-loss in ads or on packaging of foods, supplements or other products.
According to the organisation, a crash diet is not effective in the long term and causes side-effects, like binge eating, irritability, weakness and headaches. “We are therefore concerned about popular websites that have, over the last few months, regularly featured ad banners that target people who are overweight and feel vulnerable,” said Test-Aankoop in a statement. “The ads often mention an exact amount of weight that can be lost in a short period of time.”
The consumer organisation has filed a complaint with the Jury for Ethical Practices and at the department for the federal economy. It also sent a letter to the editorial staff of news websites where the ads were found, with the demand to remove them. Consumers are asked to post any such ads they find on Test-Aankoop’s Facebook page.
