FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  January 4, 1988


   FRANCHISOR OF FOOD SUPPLEMENT STORES PROHIBITED FROM MAKING
         FALSE CLAIMS, UNDER CONSENT AGREEMENT WITH FTC


     The Federal Trade Commission charged in a complaint that a
franchisor of food supplement stores falsely claimed that three
of its food supplements would enable users to lose weight, build
muscle, or promote healing.  A consent agreement settling the
charges prohibits Great Earth International Inc. from making
certain claims about the supplements' effectiveness.
     Great Earth has about 150 retail outlets coast to coast, 140
of which are owned by franchisees and licensees and the remainder
by the company.  The Santa Ana, Calif.-based company sells food
supplements, including pills, capsules, powders or liquids
containing vitamins, minerals and other products.  The company
and its franchisors advertise their products throughout the
United States.  According to trade sources, Great Earth's sales
in 1984 were about $45 million.
     According to the complaint, Great Earth falsely claimed that
three of its products would enable users to lose weight, build
muscle, burn fat, promote healing, protect against mental and
physical fatigue and strengthen the immune system.  The company's
ads stated that these benefits result because the products
stimulate the body to release human growth hormone from the
pituitary gland.  However, the complaint charges the products do
not stimulate the pituitary gland in that way and do not provide
the promised results.
     The company's ads for GHR Formula-P.M. claimed:  "Lose while
you snooze;" and "When you go to sleep, GHR Formula-P.M. goes to
work burning away fat, building lean muscle tissue and firming."
Great Earth is currently selling this product under the name
"Tri-Amino Plus P.M."  Great Earth's ads for L-Ornithine and L-
Arginine claimed:  "They help speed up healing and protect
against physical and mental fatigue."  The complaint charges that
these claims are false.
     Great Earth represented in its ads and promotional materials
that it had substantiation for its claims but, according to the
complaint, the company did not.
     Under the consent agreement, Great Earth must have
substantiation for claims that any product will:


     --  cure or prevent any disease or other undesirable
         physical or mental condition;

     --  assist a user in losing or controlling weight or fat;

     --  improve or strengthen any body organ or function; or

     --  eliminate or reduce any harmful substance or organisms
         that may be found in the body or environment.

                             (More)
     In addition, the consent agreement prohibits Great Earth
from making certain claims for GHR Formula-P.M., L-Ornithine, or
L-Arginine, including claims that they will:


     --  stimulate production or release of human growth hormone;

     --  help users achieve rapid or substantial muscular
         development;

     --  promote weight loss during sleep; or

     --  promote burning of fat or building, firming or toning
         muscles.

     The consent agreement also prohibits Great Earth from using
the name "Growth Hormone Releaser," "GHR," or any similar name
unless it has substantiation that the product stimulates the body
or pituitary gland to release significantly greater amounts of
human growth hormone in users than in non-users.
     The FTC's Chicago Regional Office handled the investigation.
     The consent agreement is scheduled to appear in the Federal
Register Jan. 5.  It will be subject to public comment until
March 7, after which the Commission will decide whether to make
it final.
     Comments should be addressed to the Office of the Secretary,
FTC, 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.
     A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and does
not constitute admission of a law violation.  When the Commission
issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of
law with respect to future actions.  Each violation of such an
order may result in a civil penalty of up to $10,000.
     Copies of the agreement, the complaint and an analysis of
the agreement are available from the FTC's Public Reference
Branch, Room 130, 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY 202-326-2502.

                              # # #


MEDIA CONTACT:  Dee Ellison, Office of Public Affairs, 202-326-
     2177

STAFF CONTACT:  William P. Golden, Chicago Regional Office, 312-
     353-8156

FTC File No. 852 3212

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