Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../21/c2892.html

Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultraviolet light

TORONTO, Dec. 21 /CNW/ - Fabutan Sun Tan Studios, Canada's largest indoortanning company, today announced that after a lengthy mediation sessionyesterday it has reached an agreement with the Competition Bureau of Canada. The agreement addresses Fabutan's ability to communicate with the publicabout the health benefits of Vitamin D obtained through exposure toUltraviolet B (UVB) in a tanning bed.

It was agreed that Fabutan may communicate that Vitamin D can bemaintained or increased as a result of a tanning session in which the tanningequipment incorporates UVB irradiance. "We are extremely pleased afterreviewing the scientific research that although the some of the benefits ofVitamin D are not conclusively proven, the agreement allows for us tocommunicate an association to the health benefits linked to Vitamin D," McNabbsaid.

"Health Canada lists Vitamin D production as an effect of exposure to UVBin a tanning bed, so we felt the focus really should be on the benefits ofVitamin D. We are happy that Vitamin D finally gets its day in the sun. Wecommend the Competition Bureau for the open-mindedness in which I feel theyapproached this mediation." The agreement will be available for viewing on theCompetition Bureau's web site during the first week of January.

"Through this process our expert witnesses provided over 1,000 pages ofresearch supporting the benefits of Vitamin D. The body of scientific evidencesupporting these claims continues to grow. Research on Vitamin D points topotential associations for the reduced risk of breast, colon, prostate, andovarian cancer, multiple sclerosis and diabetes", McNabb said.

"I think as Canadians, we have lost sight of something very basic. The human race evolved under natural sunlight. Exposing the skin to UVB light isthe way our bodies were naturally and biologically designed to produceVitamin D," he said. "In fact, information in one of the government's ownexpert witness publications confirms that 85 per cent of our Vitamin D comesfrom exposure to UVB in sunlight. Adequate doses of UVB from natural sunlightare available to Canadians only six to eight months per year," McNabb added.

As part of the settlement, Fabutan has agreed to pay $62,500 and FabutanPresident Doug McNabb will donate $12,500 to Direct - MS in Calgary.

The Competition Bureau filed an application last March to have Fabutanstop conveying to Canadians anything relating the benefits of Vitamin D or UVBlight. For over 25 years, Fabutan has prided itself on teaching Canadians howto maximize the benefits, while minimizing the risks of too much or too littleUV exposure.

About The Competition Bureau The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency thatpromotes and maintains fair competition so that all Canadians can benefit fromcompetitive prices, product choice and quality services. It oversees theapplication of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act,the Textile Labeling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.

About Fabutan Sun Tan Studios Canadians enjoyed over 5 million tanning sessions in 2005 across thecountry, establishing Fabutan as Canada's largest indoor tanning company.Operating for over 25 years and now with 150 franchises nationwide, Fabutanhas been an industry leader by promoting responsible tanning and ensuring thehighest quality of customer service and equipment.

Re: Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=106&sid=655471

Tanning firms can promote beds as vitamin D source

Dec 21st - 8:20pm



TORONTO (CP) - Canada's largest indoor tanning company can promote that tanning is a source of vitamin D and may have health benefits but it must make it clear that the benefits are not proven, according to an agreement with the Competition Bureau.

The federal regulator asked Fabutan Sun Tan Studios last March to stop making what it said were false claims about the benefits of tanning beds.

At issue, were the chain's statements that tanning was a treatment for vitamin D deficiency and that indoor tanning helps seasonal affective disorder and weak metabolisms. The Competition Bureau also challenged Fabutan's claim that tanning prevents or fights such diseases as cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Fabutan president Doug McNabb said Wednesday he's thrilled with the development, which he says means companies can now promote that indoor tanning can boost the body's level of vitamin D.

"It's a big win for us," McNabb said in a telephone interview. "We can state that it has been shown and proven that vitamin D is produced as a result of a tanning session and then talk about the associative health benefits of vitamin D."
The company can continue to cite studies that link vitamin D with the prevention and treatment of several diseases but it must be clear to indicate that the studies are not conclusive or proven, McNabb said.

The notice must be in the same type size and in close proximity to the claims.
"We can communicate that vitamin D has been associated with the reduced risk of breast, prostate and ovarian cancer, multiple sclerosis and diabetes," said McNabb, whose firm has 150 franchises across Canada.

But the company is acknowledging that ultraviolet exposure does not stimulate the thyroid and improve metabolism, as it had previously stated.
McNabb acknowledged the information turned out to be inaccurate but said it was buried on Fabutan's website and was never meant to be a promotional tool to lure people onto tanning beds.

"It was five clicks in on our website, it was never an intention for a consumer to be blasted with the benefits of tanning when they entered the website," he said.
"We've never advocated or heavily promoted the health benefits of tanning in our marketing strategies and I don't foresee us changing that. It's going to be an information type of thing where we just want to be able to share with Canadians these types of benefits."

The company will post a corrective notice on its website, pay a $62,500 administrative fee and donate $12,500 to charity.

The Competition Bureau would not comment.

Dr. Reinhold Vieth, a professor in the departments of nutritional sciences and laboratory medicine at the University of Toronto, studies vitamin D and was an expert witness for Fabutan. He said he wasn't surprised by the outcome.
"There were obviously some things (like the thyroid claims) that might've been total nonsense but I would say three quarters of what (the company) said was scientifically correct," he said.

Vieth added that the claims were based on preliminary research and not more thorough research known as randomized controlled trials.

The agreement states the company can only make claims without disclaimers if the information has passed randomized controlled trials or is endorsed by Health Canada.

"Most of what was said on the website was supported by literature but not in the same quality of evidence that one would want if you were to go to the doctor for a prescription," Vieth said.

Steve Gilroy, director of Smart Tan Canada which represents 600 indoor tanning salons, said the decision has vindicated the tanning industry.

"We think it's about time the Canadian government (said) what we've known for the last 20 years - a tanning bed will produce vitamin D," he said. "The industry is finally able to talk about something that has existed for (decades)."

Health Canada has said UV exposure can be hazardous to a person's health and in the long term can contribute to premature aging and skin cancer. But some doctors say exposure to sunlight or tanning in booths is an appropriate way to boost vitamin D levels.

In its statement, Fabutan says that tanning "whether by sunlight or sunbed, produces vitamin D in the body. . . . Tanning is not required to generate vitamin D."

The company goes on to say that vitamin D levels in the body may be increased by oral supplements without tanning.
© The Canadian Press, 2005

Re: Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

good news for us canucks! i detest Fabutan though . . . but atleast thet stood up for themselves!

Re: Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

I have forwarded this news stroy to all of our local TV stations as well as the AP. If all 28,000 salons did this, It might pique some interest!

Re: Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

It is getting a lot of coverage here in canada. This is a great big step forward for the industry!! Way to go DOUG!!!

Re: Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

It's a nice step. Haven't heard anything in the news in my neck of the woods though.

Re: Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

Well, down here they tend to focus on the negative news....If it bleeds, it leads!

We need the MS association and other affected professional medical groups to pick this up.

Re: Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

Been in the London, Kitchener and Hamilton papers so far and has been mentioned on 3 different radio stations here in the GTA. Pretty good coverage. Heard through the grapevine that we can expect to hear even more over the next few days.

Re: Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

Hope it heads further North. I should really email the story to the locals myself.

http://www.foxhills.co.uk/club/conte...imated_100.gif

Re: Fabutan and Competition Bureau reach agreement on Vitamin D health benefits from ultr
 

About time......keep it coming! yea!