Walgreens to Pay $6 Million to Settle Snake-Oil Claim

Matthew Hathaway, consumer columnist for the St. Louis Post Dispatch is reporting that Walgreens has agreed to pay a $6 million dollar penalty for foisting a "snake oil remedy" on their customers.  The product, Wal-born was a knock off of another snake oil product called AirBorne.  This is from Hathaway's column: 

"Walgreens will pay $6 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the pharmacy chain’s marketing of its 'Wal-Born' concoction — a store-brand imitation of the patent medicine, Airborne — was as honest as the remedy was effective.  Which is to say, not very. According to the FTC, Walgreens advertised Wal-Born as being a cure-all that can treat colds and the flu, fight germs and boost the immune system. The retailer also touted its supplement as being similar to the 'remedy' sold by Airborne Health Inc., which agreed to pay $30 million to settle FTC deceptive advertising charges in 2008 as well as $23 million in a related class-action suit."