Reebok to Pay $25 mill for False EasyTone Claims
The Federal Trade Commission filed a claim Wednesday against Reebok International Ltd. for deceptive advertsing claims. Reebok has agreed to pay $25 million in customer refunds to settle charges by the FTC.
The company made claims that its EasyTone footwear had been proven to lead to a 28 percent increase in strength and tone in the buttock muscles and 11 percent increase in strength and tone in hamstring and calf muscles than regular walking shoes.
The FTC said Reebok could not support the claims it made in its advertising and marketing materials.
Reebok, based in Canton, Mass., recently centered much of its business on toning shoes, which include its EasyTone walking shoes, RunTone running shoes and EasyTone flip flops.
The company claims the shoes, which have a rounded, slightly unstable sole, encourage strength by engaging more of a wearer's muscles.
