FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  October 17, 1988

          FTC ANNOUNCES $1,040,000 PAID IN REFUNDS TO 
       "DREAM AWAY" CUSTOMERS; SEEKS ADDITIONAL PURCHASERS

     The Federal Trade Commission announced that $1.04 million
has been sent in refund checks to purchasers of "Dream Away" diet
pills.  However, the Commission is continuing to search for
additional purchasers who may not have submitted an application
for refunds.

     In June the FTC announced that the maker of "Dream Away" and
"Advanced Dream Away" had turned over $1.1 million, which the
Commission is using to pay refunds to purchasers. 

     The product was advertised on cable television from 1984
until January 1988, with such claims as "Just take Dream Away
before going to bed.  You will wake up the next morning slimmer,
trimmer, and looking better than you did before."  The Commission
filed a complaint in federal court in January charging that the
product does not cause weight loss in a short period of time,
while sleeping, or at all. 

     The Commission said that a total of about $102,000 was sent
to 3,000 Dream Away purchasers who sent in valid claims.  In ad-
dition, checks for $19.95 -- the price of one bottle -- were
sent to approximately 47,000 names found on the company's cus-
tomer list.  The Commission is encouraging the people on that
list who may have purchased more than one bottle, or purchasers
who have not previously submitted claims to write to: 

               Redress Offer
               Dream Away Settlement Fund
               Federal Trade Commission
               P.O. Box 990
               Corte Madera, CA  94925

     Consumers should include proof of purchase, such as a
cancelled check or credit slip, to insure that they are included. 
The deadline is December 1.  Checks for additional refunds will
be mailed in mid-February 1989.

                              # # #
MEDIA CONTACT:      Susan Ticknor, Office of Public Affairs,
                    202-326-2181
STAFF CONTACT:      Nancy Warder, Bureau of Consumer Protection,
                    202-326-3048
(DreamRed)