The FTC has successfully brought the first-ever case against a supplement company that allegedly boosted its Amazon ratings through a third-party firm that crafts fake “verified” reviews.
According to the settlement, Cure Encapsulations sold a supplement on Amazon touted as an “appetite-suppressing, fat-blocking, weight-loss pill.”
One of the ingredients in the supplement is an Indonesian plant called garcinia cambogia that has been linked to acute liver failure.
“People rely on reviews when they’re shopping online. When a company buys fake reviews to inflate its Amazon ratings, it hurts both shoppers and companies that play by the rules,” said Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a statement.
The FTC claims the company’s founder turned to amazonverifiedreviews.com — one of the hundreds of websites that writes fake five-star reviews for a fee.
Cure Encapsulations must now inform Amazon that it paid for reviews and must notify all customers who purchased the so-called weight-loss supplement.
The FTC is imposing a $12.8-million fine, with only $50,000 due and the remainder used as a way to enforce the judgement.
WATCH: Tips from a marketing expert about how to spot fake reviews
1:55Calgary consumer and market expert warn about fake online reviews
Calgary consumer and market expert warn about fake online reviews
Research shows that 91 per cent of consumers rely on online reviews for their purchases, and it takes about 10 reviews before a consumer can start trusting a business or product.
But a lot of those reviews are unreliable, and experts say it can put consumers at risk.
Fakespot, a website that identifies fake reviews, estimates 30 per cent of product reviews on Amazon are inauthentic.
Recognizing this is a widespread problem, Amazon has taken the matter into its own hands. As an Amazon spokesperson told TechCrunch, the company has filed suits against more than 1,000 defendants for “review abuse” since 2015. They’ve also sued the third-party sites that write them.
Garcinia is a fruit, majorly found in India and Southeast Asia. It contains a chemical, hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which is considered as a source to prevent fat storage, control appetite, and increase exercise endurance. It can be extracted into powder and liquid form and is applicable in the food beverage industry, functional foods, and dietary supplements. Increasing health conscious population and inclination of consumers towards food supplements is boosting the growth of garcinia market. Moreover, continuous increase in health issues among the growing population has created opportunity for the players in garcinia market to enter into the market and generate revenue. However, stringent government laws and regulations for application of garcinia in the products may hamper the growth of the market.
Rising consumers’ awareness about garcinia supplements and health advantages associated with it is identified to be increasing the sales of garcinia in the global platform. The growth has been driven by the increased acceptance of natural health supporting ingredients among the consumers. Increasing prevalence of diseases such as obesity has increased the application of garcinia in various industries including in supplements, pharmaceuticals, functional food beverages, and others. Garcinia serves as a source in prevention from factors which leads to obesity and other body weight related disorders. Continuously increasing obesity and other body weight related issues across the globe has turned up an opportunity for supplements, functional food and beverage industry to include garcinia in their products, which is driving the growth of the global garcinia market. Garcinia helps in reducing and managing body weight and prevents conditions like obesity and unnecessary body fat deposition.
Garcinia are Guangdong Hybribio Biotech Co., Ltd. (Hong Kong),
Hunan Nutramax Inc. (China),
Hunan Huacheng Biotech Inc. (China),
Nuvaria Ingredients (U.S.),
Ambe Phytoextracts Private Ltd. (India),
Indfrag Limited (India),
Honson Pharmatech Group Ltd. (Canada),
Xi’an Lyphar Biotech Co., Ltd. (China),
Sia Fruits Serviss
Zeon Health UK Ltd. (U.K)
With the entry of new industrial players in the weight loss products, established players are continuously involved in product improvisations and constantly keep adding new products to their offerings. With companies aiming to capture a considerable share of the market segment as early as possible, they are competing in terms of quality and creating product differentiation to gain consumers attention. The best long-term growth opportunities for this sector can be captured by ensuring ongoing RD investments in the optimal strategies.
With strategic expansions, market players can focus on penetrating into the developing economies to expand their business portfolio. Consumers in developing countries are keen on exploring new product range offered to them and form a large consumer base. Establishing market in these emerging economies is profitable based on relatively low set-up costs, ease of doing business, and further lower variable cost to be incurred.
Latest Industry Updates
May 2017 TLS Weight Loss Solution has launched two of the hottest ingredients for weight loss in the name of Green Coffee Bean Extract and Garcinia Cambogia. Green Coffee Extract, is the most clinically researched brand of green coffee bean extract, which has been shown superior to its competitors in promoting healthy weight management and helping to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Dec 2016 Pure Nutrition has launched its flagship e-commerce portal in Dubai with a bid to explore the natural formulations market with its expanded range of products including Garcinia for weight management.
Nov 2016 Garcinia Cambogia Fusion Burn Fat Burner has been officially launched on Amazon.com. The product is enhanced with weight-loss formula which is natural, safe, and sustainable
Market Segments
The Global Garcinia Market has been divided into Form, Application and Region.
Based on Form: Powder, Liquid, and Others
Based on Application: Foods Beverages, Functional Foods Dietary Supplements and Others
Based on Region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and ROW
Garcinia Market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW). Asia Pacific region is dominating the market followed by Europe. Indonesia is the major producer of garcinia in the global market. Inclination towards body weight management among the consumers is driving the garcinia market in the Europe. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is witnessed to be the fastest growing region over the forecast period. Increasing obese population and growing health awareness in developing countries like India and China is boosting the growth of Asia Pacific market. Furthermore, rising demand for natural products in U.S. is likely to attract players to penetrate the North American market and increase the sales of their product.
Media Contact Company Name: Market Research Future Contact Person: Abhishek Sawant Email:Send Email Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Address:Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar City: Pune State: Maharashtra Country: India Website:https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/garcinia-market-1364
Susan Boyle is a Scottish singer that first audition where she started off her introduction stating, she said: “I am 47 and that’s just one side of me.” She rose to fame for her angelic singing voice and incredible talent. But her soulful musical prowess is not the only part of what makes Susan Boyle so special. The real reason so many people love her is that she inspired millions by just by being herself. And that raw honesty has paid off, big time! Susan Boyle went from relative obscurity to setting some records as the oldest singer to reach number one for a debut album.
Susan Boyle Weight Loss History
Since Susan Boyle was discovered in 2009 when she auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent, she was later diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2012 and decided to start living a healthy life. She has been creating headlines along with her gorgeous weight loss transformation! She has lost a humongous fifty pounds and her appearance is currently slimmer and healthier than ever.
Despite her to be known for her talent in singing, there still was some pressure concerning her appearance. Susan Boyle told The Sunday Times, “I know what they were thinking, but why should it matter as long as I can sing? It’s not a beauty contest.” Sadly, despite the modernization of our time, there is still huge pressure on how one looks. However, this was not the reason she wanted to lose weight. Rather than aesthetics, her doctors decided on putting her on to a weight loss program after she was diagnosed to have type 2 diabetes. See below a before and after of the coveted Susan Boyle weight loss image:
How and Why The Susan Boyle Lost Weight Loss Is Doable!
The Susan Boyle Weight Loss TIP 1: Remove Sugar Says the Singer!
Something as simple as sugar can dramatically help to reduce weight. Sugar is dangerous and it causes chronic diseases other than diabetes such as obesity and heart problems. We like sugar because we associate juices and drinks that we drink in the morning (even in tea/coffee) to energize, mainly thanks to the sugar. It is very high in calories hence they can give an instant energy boost, however they lack any nutrients at all. Problem is, we can easily get so many calories from sugar and but fail to expend the equivalent energy. Unused calories get stored as fat and hence naturally results in so much weight gain.
Sugar is in so many foods and beverages that you consume regularly. To avoid these sugary products, it is best to identify them and remove them successfully as Susan Boyle did. Sugar can be found in almost every single thing you DON’T make from scratch. For example, Readymade Sauces, Juices, Milkshakes, Chocolate Milk Drinks, Sports Drinks, Instant Coffee Sachets, Sugary Cereals, SODA, Salad Dressings, Breads, and ALL desserts.
An easy way to continue to eat the things on this list is to make it at home with sugar substitutes like honey, agave nectar, jaggery, maple syrup, and coconut sugar.
The Susan Boyle Weight Loss Tip 2: Healthy Exercises and Workout
Susan Boyle started walking 2 miles every day. Boyle was about 50-years-old at that time. It was important not to hurt her knees in the process of working out so walking was the best way she could start burning the fat. Susan Boyle did not exercise at the gym as she didn’t like going to the gym so she revised her own way to move throughout the day. The main point of working out is that you are using energy up so no new fats are stored and that that stored energy would finally be put to use. Anyone can do anything that can get their body moving as a form of workout.
It can be sports, housework, or like Susan Boyle’s technique, simply walking 2 miles every day. Simply take your dog for a 2-mile walk every day or come to your office on foot or by bicycle. Or you can play with your kids or siblings a lot for an hour. Just apply this to your life.
The Susan Boyle Weight Loss Tip 3: Garcinia Cambogia
Another thing that helped Susan Boyle successfully lose weight by taking Garcinia Cambogia supplements. These tamarind fruit contain hydroxycitric acid or HCA which helps accelerate the burning of fat and suppresses appetite. But of course, how can your body burn fat if you are not moving at all. So in order for this supplement to have something to assist with, you still need to workout and garcinia Cambogia would help your body burn fats faster.
The Garcinia or HCA will facilitate the body to feel full throughout the day. Garcinia is also helpful for lowering steroid alcohol. Again, these claims don’t seem to be verified, and also the results of studies are inconsistent. It works for suppressing, which facilitates losing weight and they assist fat by up your metabolism. Susan Boyle was tormented by debates over her weight however she doesn’t stop singing or taking care of her health.
General Trivia
Who is Susan Boyle?
She hails from Scotland, but now she’s known in all four corners of the globe. Susan Boyle was born in 1961 and struggled with bullying in school. She was diagnosed with a learning disability at a young age, which doctors attributed to her mother’s advanced maternal age (she was 45) and oxygen deprivation at birth. They were wrong, though. In 2012, Boyle found out she has Asperger’s and an exceptionally high IQ.
Susan Boyle was always a singer. Raised Roman Catholic, Boyle sang in the church choir and at other religious functions as a youth. Her first professional appearance was on the British television My Kind of People in 1995 when she sang “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” from Jesus Christ, Superstar. She also put out a demo album with three tracks on it and entered some small singing competitions. But it was her mom who she credits with making her famous. She’s the one who urged Boyle to try out for Britain’s Got Talent.
Why do people love Susan Boyle so much?
Ever hear the phrase “overnight success?” That’s how it was for Susan Boyle. It was April 11, 2009, when the singer took the stage and changed the course of her fate. Unfortunately, Boyle didn’t look like a pop star. She was very average looking and not wearing much makeup. Her clothes were plain and she was a bit overweight. But when she opened her mouth and started to sing? The crowd went wild. Susan Boyle sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables and absolutely nailed it. One of the judges on Britain’s Got Talent called Boyle’s audition “the biggest wake-up call ever” because it forced people to look beyond appearances.
How much money is Susan Boyle worth now?
In the months following her appearance on the show, Susan Boyle got to work on her professional singing career. She released her first album just six months later and several more in the coming years. Boyle also made her acting debut when she played herself in several documentaries about her extraordinary life. Now Susan Boyle is happier than ever doing what she loves and making money in the meantime. Thanks to all her hard work and natural talent, Susan Boyle is worth an estimated $40 million. She lives in a home she bought herself and there are rumors of a doctor boyfriend, too (though those are unconfirmed). Boyle looked fine the way she was, but she recently had a transformative experience when she lost 50 pounds in an effort to get her diabetes under control. She looks and sounds amazing, and the world loves her for it.
How old is Susan Boyle?
58 years (born on 1 April 1961)
What nationality is Susan Boyle?
Scottish and British
Who did Susan Boyle lose to?
A Street dance troupe called Diversity was announced as the winners on BGT, while singer Susan Boyle was the runner-up and saxophonist Julian Smith came in at a third place.
Where did Susan Boyle get her start?
Susan Boyle, (born April 1, 1961, Bangour Village Hospital, West Lothian, Scotland), Scottish singer whose appearance on the British television talent show Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 transformed her into an international phenomenon.
