Taco Bell sued for beefy false advertising, 5 companies settled suits

Taco Bell is facing a class action lawsuit claiming the fast food giant deceived customers about how much filling was in five menu items, including the Crunchwrap Supreme and Mexican Pizza. Attorneys bringing the lawsuit hope to get at least $5 million from the company for customers that bought the items at locations in New York state over the last three years. The situation is reminiscent of a suit against Subway over the length of its footlongs a few years ago.

Companies get in trouble for these types of practices all the time. Here are five times customers called out false advertising in this week’s Five For Friday.

5: L’Oréal

Cosmetics companies are going to tell you their products will make you look better, but they have to be careful what they promise.

Customers paid as much as $132 per bottle for L’Oréal’s Genifique and Youth Code products for “visibly younger skin in seven days” and boosted genes. But the company didn’t have scientific data to back up the ads and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) went after it for false advertising. By 2014, the regulator barred L’Oréal from making claims that any of its products target genes to make skin look or act younger.

4: Lumosity

The idea of improving cognitive function by playing a game on your phone almost sounds too good to be true. Lumosity claimed you could prevent memory loss, dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease with regular sessions. Its ads even said students would excel in school while using the subscription program.

But in 2016, the FTC found there was no proof and levied a $2 million fine against the company. It was all part of the agency’s effort at the time to crack down on apps making health claims.

3: Red Bull

The slogan “Red Bull gives you wings” helped the Austrian-owned brand sell a lot of caffeinated beverages. But it also got the company in trouble to the tune of $13 million back in 2014.

Customers didn’t literally believe they would sprout wings, but plaintiffs claimed the drink offered no physical boost. Red Bull had to refund customers $10 in cash or $15 worth of product, which is a wonderful way of keeping customers. The company claimed it didn’t do anything wrong but wanted to avoid legal wrangling that would cost a ton of money in court.

2: Airborne

Airborne is best known as the tablet developed by a school teacher to prevent colds. The brand later backtracked those claims and moved to a more general statement that the supplement “boosts your immune system.” Neither was proven and Airborne was the subject of a class action lawsuit, which settled for $23.3 million in 2008.

Again, the company denied wrongdoing but still had to offer refunds to customers that believed the ad campaigns.

1: Activia and DanActive

Interest in gut health has really spiked in recent years, but Dannon’s Activia and DanActive were ahead of the curve in 2010, employing actress Jamie Lee Curtis to pitch the yogurts in commercials.

The ads said the products were scientifically proven to regulate digestion and help the immune system. Those claims helped Dannon sell the product at a 30% premium over other yogurt brands. Like many companies on the list, a judge ruled there was no proof and Dannon was forced to pay $45 million to those affected.