FTC says natural bedbug products are bogus

It’s no surprise to us that Federal Trade Commission cracked down on two bedbug-spray marketers for making deceptive claims about their products.

FTC’s scrutiny of RMB Group’s Rest Easy and Cedarcide Industries’ Best Yet! bedbug treatments come 13 months after we first raised concerns about the efficacy of the latest bedbug-treatment products in the July/August 2011 issue.

In charges that FTC filed on Sept. 10, the agency said both companies “failed to back up overhyped claims” about their products’ capabilities to use natural ingredients that prevent or eliminate bedbugs. In addition, FTC says Cedarcide made false claims that its product was endorsed by Environmental Protection Agency and that it could treat head lice.

RMB Group settled with FTC and no longer may make its claims about its product unless it has valid scientific evidence that supports such claims. Cedarcide hasn’t settled with FTC, and the agency is planning litigation.