Holly Hagan’s plug for Protein World pills banned by advertising watchdog for making misleading health claims
The Geordie Shore star's Twitter ad for Protein World claimed their Carb Blocker pills stop unused sugars in your meal turning into fat in your body
HOLLY HAGAN'S plug for Protein World pills has been banned by the advertising watchdog over "misleading health claims".
The ad for Protein World's Carb Blocker capsules - which claim to stop you piling on the pounds following a big meal - was rapped by bosses at the Advertising Standard Authority (ASA).
The 25-year-old busty star, who shot to fame in the MTV reality TV show when it began in 2011 before quitting in 2016, tweeted a photo of herself wearing a leopard print top holding a burger, with a jar of Protein World's Carb Blocker Capsules by her plate.
She wrote on May 24 last year: "Always take my @ProteinWorld Carb Blockers Before a Cheat meal, contain natural ingredients and stop any unused sugars being used as fat #ad."
An Instagram post by Protein World, posted on 26 May 2017, showed a raven-haired model about to scoff a burger and chips in a car, adding:
"We are already planning our weekend treat at PW head quarters with carb blockers at the ready!
"Take 2 carb blockers 30 mins before a high carb meal to stop unused sugars being stored as fat in the body! Guilt free Treat…what a dream.
ASA received two complaints about the post in May 2017, challenging Protein World on their advertising of the pills which stated they can "stop unused sugars from being stored as fat".
Protein World claimed that as the name of the product was a "blocker" not a "block" or "blocked", there was some leeway as to how effective the pills could be at stopping the build up of unused sugars.
But ASA disagreed.
It said: "We considered that in the context of a food supplement, consumers would consider 'Carb Blocker' to refer to something that offered significantly greater prevention than the body could naturally achieve without its use."
The active ingredient in the pills is called Chromium.
Chromium regulates how well your body is able to break down and bind together carbohydrates.
ASA found that the pills did not contain enough Chromium to be as effective as the advertising claimed.
The pills will now be rebranded as a chromium supplement and the dosage of Chromium in the pills will be upped.
An Instagram post, seen on 26 May 2017, posted on Protein World’s Instagram page stated "Take 2 carb blockers 30 mins before a high carb meal to stop unused sugars being stored as fat in the body! Guilt free Treat…what a dream."
It included a photograph of a model holding a burger with a jar of Carb Blockers in front of her along with a plate of chips.
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A spokeswoman for Protein World told the Sun Online: "Protein World followed the National Trading Standards guidelines before the release of the product and all product claims and name were substantiated in accordance with these regulations.
"The posts from Holly Hagan did fall short of the ASA guidelines and were removed with immediate effect."
Protein World were accused of body shaming last year after their advert featuring Khloe Kardashian received 14 complaints.
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