Hispanic consumers are allegedly being targeted by the marketing of a dietary supplement called Amoxilina, offered by Georgia-based Multimex Distributions Inc. and Houston-based San Martin Distributing Inc.
According to the AG’s office, the name is very similar to Spanish translation for the widely used antibiotic Amoxicillin.
“The defendants are charged with defrauding their customers--and unnecessarily putting Texas children at risk,” said Greg Abbott, the Texas AG.
“From the product's name to its packaging, there was a clear attempt to confuse Texas families and mislead purchasers into thinking they were buying antibiotics.
“Thanks to a court order obtained by the State, the defendants are prohibited from continuing to unlawfully market their dietary supplements,” added Abbott.
'Marketing ploy'
In addition to the similarity in the names, State investigators report that “the defendants attempted to further their marketing ploy by distributing their dietary supplement in a two-toned box that closely resembles Amoxicillin’s packaging”.
“Although the labels were printed in English and Spanish, the packaging appears to be an intentional marketing ploy to mimic antibiotics and directed at Hispanic buyers,” says a statement on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.
Recall
FDA announced today that Multi-Mex Distributor has now issued a recall of the dietary supplements, which were distributed in nine states, and healthcare professionals and patients are being encouraged to report adverse events, side effects, or product quality problems related to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
FDA does not list products from San Martin Distributing as part of the recall.