Saturday, June 5, 2010

The CDC and FTC for Kimberly Clark Complaints

Some people wanted to be active in trying to bring down Kleenex Single-Use Hand Towels, and I promised I would provide some links and resources.This is what my new good friend John Steves sent out, and we encourage everyone reading to do the same, and pass it around! Please contact the CDC with concerns, because if we flood them enough, maybe they will take action more quickly. Let's do this! Pass it around, post it on Facebook, put it on your blogs... let's get this product outta here!! Please share your responses as well. I sent 2 messages to Kimberly Clark and did not get a response from the second one, and John has not heard back from the FTC. John gives us permission to use this text below as a basis for contacting the FTC, and if enough of us do it, maybe we'll get that response. There is no direct e-mail for doing this, but please follow this link for their on-line form: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ 


The "legalese" in the last paragraph is right from the FTC's definition of deceptive practice!
I hope we get the folks at KC drying their tears (or wiping their pants ) with cotton hankies! Here 'tis:

Kimberly Clark - "Kleenex" infers by name in it's advertising and web pages (
http://www.kleenex.com/HandTowels/about.aspx) that the CDC recommends use of single use towels for home hand drying. I questioned this and looked for those CDC recommendations - I could not find any for home hand washing. I contacted the CDC and they sent me this reply:
Mr. Steves
We are aware of the claims from Kleenex. We cannot support these claims. We will be contacting the company regarding their marketing.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Regards,

Abbigail
Abbigail Tumpey, MPH CHES
Associate Director for Communications Science
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd NE
Atlanta, GA
Phone: 404-639-1125
Cell: 404-259-7064
Email: atumpey@cdc.gov

This false CDC recommendation is clearly representation, omission or scare tactic practice that is directed and likely to mislead the consumer. It is a Marketing and point-of-sales practice that is likely to mislead consumers. It's likely to affect the consumer's conduct or decision with regard to this product.The consumer's interpretation or reaction is reasonable to believe that the CDC is stating that normal home washed hand towels are likely to spread disease and against CDC recommendations for the home. The practice is material, and consumer injury is likely, because consumers are likely to have chosen differently but for the deception and fear by stating the CDC recommends this type product.

2 comments: