 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
COULD IT BE THE NEXT CURE FOR CANCER AND ALL THAT AILS YOU? THE HYPE OVER THE ACAI { ah- sigh- ee } BERRY IS GROWING, BUT BEFORE YOU LAY DOWN ANY MONEY - BEWARE! 7 ON YOUR SIDE'S ROSS MCLAUGHLIN HAS A LOOK AT THE PITFALLS.
ROSS:
FROM OPRAH TO SKIN SPECIALIST DOCTOR, NICHOLAS PERRICONE THE ACAI BERRY HAS SOME BIG FANS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LARGE NUMBER OF ANGRY CONSUMERS WHO'VE BOUGHT IT.
Script:
IT IS A LITTLE BERRY THAT'S MAKING A BIG SPLASH. ACAI, GROWN IN THE RAIN FOREST OF THE AMAZON, IS TOUTED AS THE MIRACLE BERRY OF THE U.S.
"That's how Oprah lost weight on this after she gained weight," said, M Chanel Pinkett, a consumer.
LOSE WEIGHT, CURE CANCER, CAN A PILL DO ALL THIS? M CHANEL THOUGHT SHE'D GIVE IT A TRY FOR FREE. BUT IT WASN'T FREE. PINKETT PAID $87.13, twice.
THAT CAME AS A BIG SURPRISE. SHE JUST WANTED THE FREE SAMPLE AND WE FOUND IT FOR A LOT LESS.
Ross: "A lot cheaper here it's $24."
THE FDA HAS NOT EVALUATED THE ACAI AND THE HEALTH BENEFITS ARE STILL BEING STUDIED, YET YOU'LL FIND ALL KINDS OF HEALTH CLAIMS ON THE INTERNET, AND THE FDA HAS TAKEN ACTION AGAINST SOME COMPANIES FOR MAKING THESE CLAIMS.
IN FACT, THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST SAYS BEWARE YOU COULD FIND YOURSELF BEING BILLED EXORBITANT AMOUNTS FOR WORTHLESS PILLS. AND AS FOR THE COMPANY THAT CHARGED M CHANEL FOR HER "FREE SAMPLE," THEY'RE NON RESPONSIVE.
THE FLORIDA BASED FWM LABORATORIES HAS A FAILING GRADE FROM THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, WHICH HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 400 COMPLAINTS.
"I've never been scammed on the Internet," Pinkett said.
SHE NOW KNOWS TO NEVER GIVE HER CREDIT CARD NUMBER OUT WHEN SOMEONE'S OFFERING A FREE SAMPLE.
"I'm really thankful 7 On Your Side took the time out, hopefully this will help other people," Pinkett added.
ROSS:
M CHANEL SENT THE PRODUCT BACK, DISPUTED THE CHARGES AND CANCELED HER CREDIT CARD TO MAKE SURE SHE DOESN'T GET RECURRING PAYMENTS.
FIND OUT MORE ON ROSS'S BLOG
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.