NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — Total Tan Inc. has agreed to settle allegations of making misleading health claims about its products and services, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced.
Total Tan operates 25 locations across upstate New York, providing indoor tanning services. Indoor tanning increases the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Despite this, Total Tan’s website allegedly downplayed inherent risks of indoor tanning, stating, “the risks associated with UV light have been overstated and the benefits ignored.” In addition to these claims, the company also purportedly advertised indoor tanning had health benefits like helping prevent an array of diseases. Schneiderman’s office alleged that these claims are unsupported.
“Today’s agreement is part of our continuing efforts to protect consumers from the documented skin cancer risks of indoor tanning,” Schneiderman said. “I am especially concerned with rising cancer rates associated with indoor tanning, particularly for young people. Advertising and marketing cannot be used as a tool to confuse and endanger New York consumers.”
Total Tan agreed to pay $5,000 per day for any future misleading advertising related to health. It also agreed to $500 in fines for any future violations of New York tanning laws.