Marketers of "Blue Stuff" pain cream settle deceptive advertising charges

Monday, November 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The marketers of a pain-relief cream promoted in national television ads agreed to pay the government $3 million to settle charges that they made deceptive promises about their products.

The Federal Trade Commission said Monday that Blue Stuff Inc. and McClung Advertising Inc., both based in Oklahoma City, lacked scientific evidence to support claims that their ``Blue Stuff'' and ``Super Blue Stuff'' topical creams could relieve severe pain.

The Food and Drug Administration also sent a warning letter Monday to Blue Stuff, advising the company that its advertising violates federal regulations, the FTC said.

An attorney for the companies did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

By settling, the companies don't admit breaking any law.

The FTC said the companies marketed the creams with a TV infomercial, brochures and on the Internet. The television ads ran nationwide through most of 2001 and the first half of 2002.

The ads claimed the products, which sold for about $60 for an 8-ounce jar, could provide significant or complete relief of severe pain, such as ``excruciating sciatic nerve pain'' and pain from crushed vertebrae or a brain tumor, the agency said.

The settlement also bans the companies from making future claims without scientific proof.