Yahoo LifestyleReebok fined US$25 million for misleading consumers with ‘toning shoe’ claims
If you were hoping there was a magical pair of trainers out there that would help tighten and tone your legs and bum, well, you're out of luck. And so is sportswear giant Reebok.
The company, who claimed that their Easy Tone shoes helped strengthen hamstring, calf and buttock muscles, is being fined US$25M (£16M) for false advertising.
The Federal Trade Commission in America charged the brand with misleading consumers by stating that the "sole technology featuring pockets of moving air creates 'micro instability' that tones and strengthens muscles as you walk or run".
The FTC also had issue with the fact that the EasyTone line, which retails from £42, promised wearers it would "lead to 28 per cent more strength and tone in the buttock muscles, 11 per cent more strength and tone in the hamstring muscles, and 11 per cent more strength and tone in the calf muscles than regular walking shoes".
[See also: The beautiful bottom workout]
And where will that money go? According to the FTA, the US$25 million will go towards compensating customers who have purchased from the EasyTone line in the past, under the influence of the claims made by Reebok.
