Patanjali, Reckitt Benckiser, HUL, Idea among ads under ASCI scanner

In April 2016, the Advertising Standards Council of India’s (ASCI) Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against 67 out of 141 advertisements. Out of 67 advertisements against which complaints were upheld, 27 belonged to the Healthcare & Personal Care category, 10 in the Food & Beverages category, 7 in the E-commerce category, 4 depicting Automotives, followed by 4 in the Education category and 15 advertisements from other categories.

Health & Personal Care

The CCC found the following claims in health care & personal care product or service advertisements of 27 advertisers to be either misleading or false or not adequately/ scientifically substantiated and hence violating ASCI’s Code. Some of the health care products or services advertisements also contravened provisions of the Drug & Magic Remedies Act and Chapter 1.1 and III.4 of the ASCI Code. Complaints against the following advertisements were upheld.

Razorbill (Razor Slim Ayurvedic Instant Slimming Capsules), Colgate-Palmolive India (Colgate Herbal), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care (Pantene Shampoo), L’Oreal India (New Garnier White Complete Double Action Facewash), Hindustan Unilever (Rexona Roll On), Patanjali Ayurved (Patanjali Dant Kanti), Shree Maruti Herbal (Stay On Power Capsules), Shree Maruti Herbal (Stay On Powder & Capsules), Japani Instrument, Rajnish Hot Deals (Play Win Plus Capsules), Sex product Ad, Dindayal Industries (303 Capsules), Vaccum Therapy, Win-Medicare (Umesh Modi Group) (Mederma), Ayuway Herbal (Noni Wellness Drink), Ayuway Herbal (Fat Free Tablet), Akhilesh Shinde (Treatment for Cancer), Babuline Pharma (Babuline Carminative Water), Dr. Basu’s Eye Hospital (Isotin Eye Drops) (Treatment for Cataract without Operation), Pankajakasthuri Herbals India (Orthoherb Tablets for Joint Pain Relief), Vaidya Pritam Singh (Shiva Aushadhalaya).

Food & Beverages

Patanjali Ayurved (Patanjali Kachi Ghani Mustard Oil), (Patanjali Fruit Juice), (Patanjali Dugdhamrut), Kamla Kant & Company (Rajshree Pan Masala), DJ Group (Pan Bahar Pan Masala), Meeka Restaurants (Nando’s Chicken), Kellogg India (Kelloggs Chocos Mascot in Chota Bheem), Gaia Range of Health Foods and Nutritional Supplements.

E-commerce

One Mobikwik Systems (Mobikwik Rs. 20 Cashback Offer), One Mobikwik Systems (Mobikwik Get Rs 500 Cashback), Uber India (Uber Taxi Service – Distance Surcharge), One97 Communications (Paytm), Astrologerad.com, Endurance Web Solutions (Hostgator.in), Bankbazaar.com (Bhartiya Jan Dhan Credit Scheme).

Advertisements Depicting Automotives

Nissan Motors India (Nissan Sunny), Apollo Tyres (Apollo Tyres for Scooters), Hamilton Housewares (Milton i Fresh - 100% Leakproof Lunch Boxes), Amazon.com Inc. (Amazon – Friendly Customer Service).

Education

The CCC found following claims in the advertisements by four different advertisers were not substantiated and, thus, violated ASCI Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions. Hence, complaints against these advertisements were upheld.

New Delhi Institute of Management, Test Cracker Education (Test Cracker – CAT 2016 coaching), S.Tech Group of Education (S Tech IT School), British Fort Foundation (British Institute).

Others

Reckitt Benckiser India (Mortein Insta5), Pernod Ricard India (Seagram’s Royal Stag), Whirpool of India (Whirlpool 3D Cool Xtreme AC), Hindustan Unilever (Pureit Ultima), Idea Cellular (Idea 3G 900), Idea Cellular (Idea 3G), Reliance Industries (Reliance Jio Infocomm), Aircel, Suzuki Motorcycle India (Suzuki Gixxer), HPL Electric and Power (HPL GLO LED Bulb), Shwas Homes, Sri Vedic Pratisthan (Rashi Bhagya Ratna), Agarwal D2D Packers and Movers, Flex Chemical Industries (Taj Reetha Detergent Powder), Tata Motors (Tata Signa).