BAYER: Pays $1M to Settle Advertising Claim Dispute

      Bayer Corp. will pay $1 million to launch a consumer-education campaign after the Federal Trade Commission charged that the company made inaccurate claims about the efficacy of taking aspirin for heart disease in a series of ads, the Washington Post reports. The ads, which ran from 1995 to 1998, claimed that a regular aspirin regimen can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, the FTC said that while an aspirin regimen may be beneficial for some adults, it may not help and may actually harm others. To properly inform the public, Bayer will distribute free brochures entitled "Aspirin Regimen Therapy -- Is it Right for You?" Any future advertisements that tout aspirin therapy as effective against heart attack and stroke must carry the disclaimer: "Aspirin is not appropriate for everyone, so be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen." In related cases, Bayer has agreed to pay New York and Connecticut $30,000 each to settle similar charges (Mayer, 1/12).