Quackbase!
A database that tracks dubious medical claims.
Claims
Click on the number in the first column to go to the claim, where you can read full details about it.
Click on the claimant name in the second column to see all the claims made by this claimant in the Quackbase database.
| Claim # | Claimant | Claim date | Forum | Type | Condition | Plausibility ↓ | Responses | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Solal Technologies (Naturally Sweet) | Dec. 1, 2009 | Advert in The Star | Sugar | has harmful effects | Hyperbole | 8 |
A Solal advert in the Star claims that too much sugar or artificial sweetners can cause cancer. This sets off a protracted battle at ASASA with the Sugar Association.
Read more
|
| 34 | Imuniti Holdings Ltd (Imuniti Nutritional Supplement Combo (INSC)) | March 23, 2011 | Statement to JSE | Treats | AIDS | Implausible | 0 |
Imuniti Holdings claims that its product treats HIV in a press statement aimed at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Read more
|
| 41 | Clicks (Apple Cider) | May 30, 2011 | Clicks marketing | Supports | Weight Loss | Implausible | 0 |
Clicks Pharmacy markets Apple Cider as a supplement to supports weight loss
Read more
|
| 49 | Boiron Laboratories (Oscillococcinum) | July 10, 2011 | Advert on M-Net | Alleviates | Flus and colds | Implausible | 1 |
Boiron claims that a homeopathic remedy called Oscillococcinum relieves fly symptoms.
Read more
|
| 60 | Health Inc | Nov. 20, 2011 | Website | Boosts | Immune system | Implausible | 0 |
Dr Botha of Health Inc claims to boost the immune system of HIV-positive patients
Read more
|
| 71 | Clicks | Feb. 1, 2012 | Store Pamphlet | Analyses | Adrenal Fatigue | Implausible | 1 |
The pamphlet describes a condition which is not recognised by any health authority in the world
Read more
|
| 15 | Homeopathy for Health in Africa | Feb. 11, 2011 | Website | Treats | AIDS | Tests are disputed or inconclusive | 0 |
The website states, inter alia: “Homoeopathy works by stimulating and enhancing the immune system and therefore it is precisely in this disease(AIDS) that homoeopathy can be most effective”. It also ...
Read more
|
| 17 | Mr. Peter Michael von Maltitz | March 15, 2010 | Website | Cures | AIDS | Tests are disputed or inconclusive | 1 |
It was brought to TAC's attention that Von Maltitz claims to have discovered a cure for HIV/AIDS. He is operating from a facility run by Catholic Welfare in Masiphumelele, Fish ...
Read more
|
| 20 | Secomet (Ithemba Lesizwe) | Oct. 1, 2006 | Website | Treats | AIDS | Tests are disputed or inconclusive | 1 |
The Stellenbosch-based manufacturer of Secomet V claimed it lowered the viral load of HIV positive patients. However, Secomet V (marketed as “Ithemba Lesizwe” or hope of the nation) has never ...
Read more
|
| 26 | Solal Technologies | Feb. 1, 2011 | Flyer | Alleviates | Vitamin Deficiency | Tests are disputed or inconclusive | 2 |
This Solal flyer claimed that more than 80% of South Africans tested are deficient in vitamin D3, which is essential for heart health.
Read more
|
| 39 | Dr Boxall's | May 10, 2011 | Flyer | Reduces | Weight | Tests are disputed or inconclusive | 0 |
Dr Boxall's claims that Hoodia Gordonii reduces weight and obesity
Read more
|
| 47 | Boehringer Ingelheim (Pharmaton) | July 7, 2011 | Advert on SABC TV | Boosts | Immune system | Tests are disputed or inconclusive | 0 | |
| 61 | Solal Technologies (Solal Stress Damage Control) | Feb. 14, 2012 | Advert in Cape Times | Protects | Heart Disease | Tests are disputed or inconclusive | 1 |
The advert suggests the product protects the heart and brain from stress damage
Read more
|
| 21 | BioLife | Feb. 22, 2011 | Advert in Cape Times | Boosts | Immune system | Tests showed no significant effect | 0 |
The advert placed in a supplement section of the Cape Times on health claimed that BioLife's multivitamins will "certainly boost your immune system and in so doing, reduce incidence of ...
Read more
|
| 24 | Pharma Natura PTY (Ltd) (Jungle Vites) | Jan. 17, 2011 | Radio commercial | Improves | Mood disorders | Tests showed no significant effect | 2 |
The commercial for 'Jungle Vites' states, inter alia, 'Mums it's back to school time and with Jungle Vites focussed kids you have one less then to worry about'. The advertisement ...
Read more
|
| 10 | Carpe Diem Enterprises (Tara Klamp) | June 20, 2010 | Website | Safe | Circumcision | Tests showed this is unsafe | 1 |
Carpe Diem Enterprises has been distributing an unsafe circumcision device called the Tara KLamp. Note claim date is simply a date we checked their website. The claim was first made ...
Read more
|
| 13 | SA Natural Products Pty (Ltd) (A Vogel Neuroforce) | Dec. 1, 2010 | Advert in Weekend Argus | Treats | Mood disorders | Untested | 2 |
A very important decision of the ASA regarding what degree of expertise will be considered as sufficient.
Read more
|
| 14 | SA Natural Products Pty (Ltd) (Multiforce Alkaline Powder) | May 1, 2010 | Advert in the Sunday Times | Reduces | Acidity | Untested | 2 |
The complainant submitted that although it is a fact that alkaline will reduce acidity, there is no proof that "Multiforce Alkaline Powder" can reduce acidity in the human body. The ...
Read more
|
| 33 | Solal Technologies (Krill Oil) | Sept. 5, 2009 | Advert in Beeld Newspaper | Improves | Nutrition | Untested | 2 |
Solal ran an advert titled "Why Solal Technologies believes that omega 3s from krill oil are better than fish oil."
Read more
|
| 35 | Solal Technologies (ACES Plus) | April 10, 2011 | Advert in Cape Times | Cures | Hangovers | Untested | 0 |
Solal ran an advert in the Cape Times claiming that their products are a quick fix for hangovers
Read more
|