Consumer Group Sues Bayer Over Men’s One-A-Day Vitamin Cancer Claims

Drug company Bayer AG falsely claimed an ingredient in its Men’s One-A-Day multivitamins can prevent prostate cancer, according to a lawsuit filed by a leading consumer advocacy group.

In a lawsuit filed Sept. 30 in California Superior Court in San Francisco, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said Bayer’s claims that the trace mineral selenium found in the vitamins can “support prostate health” and “reduce the risk of prostate cancer” is misleading to consumers.

To the contrary, the group’s lawsuit states, selenium “may actually cause harm to consumers,” according to a Reuters news report.

Bayer has used the prostate cancer-fighting benefits of the vitamins containing selenium on the company’s website, in ads for the products, and on the vitamins’ labeling, the group’s lawsuit states.

A Bayer spokesman said the company promoted the selenium ingredient’s ability to fight prostate cancer because the Food and Drug Administration found that selenium can help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

Earlier this year, the FDA changed its stance on selenium and Bayer is working on revising the advertising and packaging to remove any mentions of selenium and a reduced risk of certain types of cancer, the company spokesman said.

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