If you were one of those consumers who invested in caffeine-infused underwear with the promise that it will make you thinner, the Federal Trade Commission says you were taken advantage of by this ruse.
According to a Sept. 30, 2014, AP story, the FTC recently announced that two companies—one in Oregon and the other in New Jersey—”have agreed to refund $1.5 million to consumers who purchased shapewear that supposedly can reduce cellulite and fat because it is infused with caffeine, vitamin E and other things.”
In a statement, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection said, “If someone says you can lose weight by wearing the clothes they are selling, steer clear.”
According to one of the firms selling the caffeine-laden clothing, women could lose up to two inches off the hips and an inch off the thighs in less than a month without effort just by wearing the items.
Both companies negotiated settlements with the FTC agreeing to provide refunds for consumers. The news story reports, “The companies also will be prohibited from claiming their caffeinated garments cause weight or fat loss or a reduction of body size.”