Too 'scientific' to be true: Empty slogans are false

"Dermatologically tested," "effective for 48 hours," "reduces cholesterol by 10%": these promises are ubiquitous on Swiss shelves. According to the French-speaking Consumer Federation (FRC), they often rely on a scientific appearance to convince buyers. To gain more insight, the organization sent 19 investigators to shops in seven French-speaking cantons, and its findings are alarming.

In total, 353 products were examined, from various sectors (cosmetics, hygiene, food, household, health, etc.). The claims studied included percentages of effectiveness, mentions of clinical tests, and even recommendations from professionals.

First observation: the health and beauty aisles account for 60% of all scientific claims. Manufacturers use them primarily to reassure people about the efficacy and safety of their products. The remaining 40% is for other products, such as food.

A few examples analyzed: a deodorant claiming "clinically tested" effectiveness for 48 hours was based on a simple olfactory test conducted on 18 people. "Biodegradable" wipes didn't specify that only the fabric was biodegradable, not the disinfectant solution. Creams claiming "more than 90% natural ingredients" achieve this, in particular, thanks to... water.

The law against unfair competition requires that claims be supported by concrete evidence. The FRC therefore requested substantiation from 30 manufacturers. As a result, only half responded. "And the responses were rather weak," notes Sandra Imsand, who led the survey. While no promises were entirely unfounded, several turned out to be exaggerated or vague. This is why the law needs to be more precise, according to the organization.