TELEFONO ANTIPLAGIO PRESS RELEASE (12/20/01)
OBJECT: STRISCIA LA NOTIZIA CLAMOROUS BLUNDER
our complaint to the Antitrust Authority for deceptive and not truthful advertising

After having fairly castigated Wanna Marchi, "Striscia la Notizia" (on December 18th and 20th 2001) unexpectedly broadcasted the advertisment of Vit' Alba Bach flowers (as principal sponsor of the humorous television news). Presented by the slender "veline" and by the Gabibbo, the Bach flowers were sold as "slimming" by the company IBS. The Bach flowers - which have the same "power" as the salt and ivy sold by Wanna Marchi - are also administered as treatment against depression, headache, reumatism, intestinal problems, anxiety and many other pathologies. Actually, there are no experimentations to support the efficacy of Bach Flowers. On the contrary, signalings reaching our voluntary service witness that hundreds of "new age" associations and "operators of the occultism" are largely using Bach flowers as potions with amazing powers. Therefore, our committee sent a detailed complaint to the Antitrust Authority (which has repetedly sanctioned the advertising of "slimming" products by IBS srl), since any sanitary therapy can be prescribed exclusively by the official medicine. In fact, according to the Ministry of Health:

"the advertising of herbalist's products cannot boast any therapeutic, nor preventive property for specific pathologies". If an herbalist's preparation really manifests therapeutic properties, it should be submitted to the discipline of the medicinal specialities (that is to the n.178/91 government decree) and it could be exclusively sold at the chemist's and not at the herbalist's shop, even less for correspondence"

Even worse, the promotional message inside "Striscia" invites to ask information about the Bach flowers to the pay telephone number 899809080 (540 lira per minute, taxes included, for a maximum of 5 minutes, 2.700 lira). However, according what shown in the Vit' Alba website (www.vitalba38.it), the call to an analogous number (899909098) actually costs 780 lira per minute and it does not have duration limits. We have called the number advertised by "Striscia" and we interrupted the communication after 13 minutes. This number reach no operator, but a recording which induces to listen to expensive messages for an unlimited time.
There follows the text of the complaint to the Antitrust Authority.

Thanks to the following complaint, Striscia has been sentenced by the Antitrust Authority
If you want to read the text of the sentence click here

For the attention of ANTITRUST AUTHORITY
Deceptive advertising office, via Liguria, 26-187 Rome

According to the Government Decree 74/92, I, Giovanni Panunzio (teacher, founder of the "Telefono Antiplagio" 3388385999 comitee and consumer) report:
The 18th and 20th December 2001, around 9 pm, inside the Canale 5 transmission "Striscia la Notizia" Vit'Alba Bach flowers products ("DreamLight") were advertised. The products were offered by IBS srl, via Meraviglia 31, Lainate (MI). This company has been repeatedly ratified by this Authority.
The promotional message at issue (interpreted by two "veline" and the Gabibbo) claims:

" Vit'Alba, a new line of cosmetics-slimming treatments realize according to the tradition of the Bach flowers. These flowers can actually help to figh several major and minor inconveniencest; and among the inconveniences there are the exceding kilos, the cellulitis... DreamLight hardening gel against the unattractive cellulitis, DreamLight capsules that helps to reduce the superfluous fat… and DreamLight draining effect serum. Vit' Alba products are composed by exlusively by natural ingredients. If you need more information, call the number 899809080 or visit the internet site. To be up to date about wellness. "DreamLight, in line with yourself".

Actually, none has ever verified any difference between the patients treated, in blind double, with the Bach flowers and those curates with the placebo (the blind double require that both the examined subjects and the researchers ignore information that could affect the results). In the medical field, this is the only possible methodology and only the drugs and the therapies which pass such procedure can be defined effective. The advertising of the herbalist's products cannot boast any therapeutic nor preventive property for specific pathologies. If an herbalist's preparation really manifests therapeutic properties, it should be submitted to the discipline of the medicinal specialities (that is to the n.178/91 government decree) and it could be exclusively sold at the chemist's and not at the herbalist's shop, even less for correspondence (as for the products "DreamLight"). Therefore, the advertisement of the IBS srl product is misleading for the consumer, because it invites to auto-diagnosis and auto-medication of pathologies that require the intervention of a doctor. The claimed results of "DreamLight" product has no scientific foundation, as the product, which is said to be composed by natural substances, does not seem able to allow any person to thin. In any case, if the product should cause significant weight losses, the treatment should be managed under medical supervision. The weight loss cannot be obtained without risks for the health and without specific sanitary inspection. As regards the cellulitis, it is a multifactorial lipidistrofic manifestation, whose aetiology has not been completely investigated yet. It presents an articulate clinical picture, which requires a complex therapeutic approach. Therefore, also the claims concerning the anticellulitis effectiveness of the products "DreamLight" appear without scientific foundation.
Moreover, the advertising message is untruthful, because it invites to ask information about the Bach flowers to the pay telephone number 899809080 (540 lira per minute, taxes included, for a maximum of 5 minutes, 2.700 lira). However, according what shown in the Vit' Alba website (www.vitalba38.it), the call to an analogous number (899909098) actually costs 780 lira per minute and it does not have duration limits. I have called the number advertised by "Striscia" and I interrupted the communication after 13 minutes. This number reach no operator, but a recording which induces to listen to expensive messages for an unlimited time.
While asking your intervention, I enclose the recording of "Striscia la Notiza" 12/20/01.

PRESS SURVEY

www.repubblica.it
'Striscia la Notizia' on the dock. The satirical news of Canale 5, which have unmasked many frauds, has been accused by Telefono Antiplagio. Striscia broadcasted on 18th and 20th December the advertising of the Vit'Alba Bach flowers, presented by the 'veline' and the Gabibbo and as sold as slimming products by the company Ibs. To denounce it, with a letter to the Antitrust, was a consumer association against deceptive and not truthful advertising. "The advertising message is untruthful, because it invites to ask information about the Bach flowers to the pay telephone number 899809080 (540 lira per minute, taxes included, for a maximum of 5 minutes, 2.700 lira). However, according what shown in the Vit' Alba website (www.vitalba38.it), the call to an analogous number (899909098) actually costs 780 lira per minute and it does not have duration limits. This number reach no operator, but a recording which induces to listen to expensive messages for an unlimited time." The Telefono Antiplagio committee also recalls that, according to the Ministry Of The Health (n.178/91 government decree), "The advertising of the herbalist's products cannot boast any therapeutic nor preventive property for specific pathologies. If an herbalist's preparation really manifests therapeutic properties, it should be submitted to the discipline of the medicinal specialities (that is to the n.178/91 government decree) and it could be exclusively sold at the chemist's and not at the herbalist's shop, even less for correspondence". (Coe)

www.vip.it
WHO WILL INVESTIGATE ON THE STRISCIA LA NOTIZIA VELINE?
The Bach flowers contain principally water; "there are no rigouros experimentations - writes the CICAP - that allow to observe any effectiveness of therapy of Bach flowers not imputable to the placebo effect ". So, are these alternative therapies worth as much as those proposed by Wanna Marks? Yes, according to the Antiplagiarism Telephone, and therefore its president, Giovanni Panunzio, asked the intervention of Antitrust Authority because:
"After having fairly castigated Wanna Marchi, "Striscia la Notizia" (on December 18th and 20th 2001) unexpectedly broadcasted the advertisment of Vit' Alba Bach flowers (as principal sponsor of the humorous television news). Presented by the slender "veline" and by the Gabibbo, the Bach flowers were sold as "slimming" by the company IBS. The Bach flowers - which have the same "power" as the salt and ivy sold by Wanna Marchi - are also administered as treatment against depression, headache, reumatism, intestinal problems, anxiety and many other pathologies. Actually, there are no experimentations to support the efficacy of Bach Flowers. On the contrary, signalings reaching our voluntary service witness that hundreds of "new age" associations and "operators of the occultism" are largely using Bach flowers as potions with amazing powers. Therefore, our committee sent a detailed complaint to the Antitrust Authority (which has repetedly sanctioned the advertising of "slimming" products by IBS srl), since any sanitary therapy can be prescribed exclusively by the official medicine. In fact, according to the Ministry of Health: "the advertising of herbalist's products cannot boast any therapeutic, nor preventive property for specific pathologies". If an herbalist's preparation really manifests therapeutic properties, it should be submitted to the discipline of the medicinal specialities (that is to the n.178/91 government decree) and it could be exclusively sold at the chemist's and not at the herbalist's shop, even less for correspondence". Even worse, the promotional message inside "Striscia" invites to ask information about the Bach flowers to the pay telephone number 899809080 (540 lira per minute, taxes included, for a maximum of 5 minutes, 2.700 lira). However, according what shown in the Vit' Alba website (www.vitalba38.it), the call to an analogous number (899909098) actually costs 780 lira per minute and it does not have duration limits. We have called the number advertised by "Striscia" and we interrupted the communication after 13 minutes. This number reach no operator, but a recording which induces to listen to expensive messages for an unlimited time.".

LA SARDEGNA, on paper and web (www.lanuovasardegna.kataweb.it)
"After having fairly castigated Wanna Marchi, "Striscia la Notizia" (on December 18th and 20th 2001) unexpectedly broadcasted the advertisment of Vit' Alba Bach flowers (as principal sponsor of the humorous television news). Presented by the slender "veline" and by the Gabibbo, the Bach flowers were sold as "slimming" by the company IBS". Reads a letter by Telefono Antiplagio: "The Bach flowers - which have the same "power" as the salt and ivy sold by Wanna Marchi - are also administered as treatment against depression, headache, reumatism, intestinal problems, anxiety and many other pathologies. Actually, there are no experimentations to support the efficacy of Bach Flowers. On the contrary, signalings reaching our voluntary service witness that hundreds of "new age" associations and "operators of the occultism" are largely using Bach flowers as potions with amazing powers."

LIBERO
After having castigated Vanna Marchi, they make a similar mistake advertising imaginary miraculous products. This is the blunder of Striscia la Notizia, according to the association Telefono Antiplagio, which complained to the Authority. The 18th and 20th December Striscia broadcasted a promotional message of Bach Flowers, whose producer, Vit' Alba, is the principal sponsor of the transmission. The veline advertised the preparation as "slimming". According to the Telefono Antiplagio: "the Bach flowers have the same "power" as the salt and ivy sold by Wanna Marchi".
Here the exhilarating answer of "creeps" (December 21st, 2001):

"WE ASK A HOMOEOPATHIC CARE OF RESPONSIBLE TELEFONO ANTIPLAGIO, THOSE THAT IN MADE A MEMORABLE BLUNDER ABOUT THE FRAUDS OF THE FUEL STATIONS, DEFINING, TO ADVERTISE THEMSELVES, A FAKE; BLUNDER SUPPORTED BY THE FACT THAT THE CATEGORY ASSOCIATIONS TOOK SEVERE MEASURES AFTER THE COMPLAINTS OF 'STRISCIA'. WE HAVEN'T BEEN SCARED OF COLOSSUSES AS TELECOM AND OMNITEL AND WE WILL NOT BACK OFF, CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE AS WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE".

TELEFONO ANTIPLAGIO REPLY:
"Striscia" attaks the volunteers (not bad to be Christmas)!
Striscia la notizia, after advertising improbable "slimming product", in contradiction with the criticism to Wanna Marchi, and after the complaint of Telefono Antiplagio, asks a homoeopathic care for our voluntary service association. Evidently, they consider us healthy, because it is reknowed that homoeopathic products are fresh water. Instead, we suggest to Striscia a traditional oculistic care: because, despite having repetedly read that we are not a company and do not sell anything, it keeps on saying that we want to advertise ourselves. If that was the case, we would not have refused four invitations to the Costanzo Show. As regards the repots about the frauds of the fuel stations, we just noticed that if the faces and the plates of the protagonists are obscured - but the wise editing of Striscia already censured us on this aspect the 3/8/01 (as you can read below) - it is possible to believe it a fiction. Frauds are not demonstrable if characters and interpreters are not known. The same associations of category, being televiewers, can fall in the "big snare" of the invented cases. Therefore the blunder, untill proved otherwise, is Striscias's, not ours. Remember that the humorous news, after the USA attacs, created serious allarmism, showing a catalogue containing sharp products (sold on some flights) and claiming that they were still for sale: fact denied by us in the following days. However we learn with pleasure that Striscia will investigate on its promotional untruthful message: however we hope that they will intervene before the end of the advertising campaign. Considered that Striscia keeps stigmatizing the Marchi's gang, they shall avoid advertising books which teach "divination" (sic)! How did Ezio Greggio on Saturday 22/12 with The Ching. We wonder: if Wanna Marchi had been Striscia's sponsor, as the Bach flowers and the The Ching, who would have protected Mrs. Fosca Marcon? Maybe those of Striscia would have become superstitious? Or super irascible?

PRESS RELEASE OF TELEFONO ANTIPLAGIO (03/11/01)
Object: STRISCIA LA NOTIZIA BLUNDER
After our press release (3/1/2001), which was questioning, in the name of transparency of information, the truthfulness of Stricia's reports about the frauds of fuel stations, the humorous news of Canale 5 had to reduce the "scoop". In fact, while on 2/27/2001, the Antonio Ricci's gang was creating allarmism, claiming that the fuel cheat was very diffuse, on 3/4/2001 it sent to Cagliari Gimmy Ghione, to explain, in our presence that is was as isolate case.
But but on the 3/8/2001 the misdeed happened. Paolo Bonolis introduced a report using the following words (words and only words): "the persons responsible for the Telefono Antiplagio doubted of the truthfulness of our report about the fuel station which were rising the fuel prize of 10.000 lira". Obviously, our service is authentic, warranted. Listen to the excuses of Telefono Antiplagio in front of Gimmy Ghione microphone". But what excuses! NOTHING MORE THAN A FAKE! And we can show it. In fact, knowing the censor methods of "Striscia", we decided to register the whole conversation (4 repeated interviews) with the willing Gimmy Ghione: you can listen in audio and/or read in our website, www.antiplagio.org.
For instance, I said: "let me speak, the citizen who is cheated has right to be protected; a report cannot be broadcasted just to have audience and the citizen is not protected". And the president of our association, Alfredo Barrago, added: "and you also let that person leave without the ten thousand lira". And still Barrago: "we are the first to hope that the only fake in Striscia are the laughs". And when Gimmy Ghione, in the same recording, accused us to have raised the case only to advertise ourselves, he was "cooled down" again by our president who, obviously, answered: "the Telefono Antiplagio is an association which protects the weak". As we are not a shoes shop, I don't see where the advertising is. We do not sell anything". EVERYTHING CENSURED! Not only, but the authors of Striscia, not happy of the few scraped up by their diligent correspondent, in fact Gimmy Ghione tried 4 times to be repeated interviews (all listenable in our site www.antiplagio.org), decided to be bully once again. Paolo Bonolis repeated, in the studio, that we wanted to advertise ourselves, in this way, preventing us from replying. What a information transparency! This means "to have the microphone hand".
While Paolo Bonolis pretend authenticity and guarantee, we prefer to demonstrate, with evidence, that when Ricci & c. make a blunder, they defend themselves with the lex talionis or with the editing. We are sure that on this episode Striscia will be forced to adopt silence tactics.
A more suitable title for 'Striscia la Notizia' could be 'Striscia la Nequizia'. We are sorry.


TO SHOW THAT WE ARE IMPARTIAL:
WE PUBBLISH ANOTHER COMPLAINT (12/23/01) AGAINST AN HOMOEOPATHIC 'SLIMMING' PRODUCT

To the attention of ANTITRUST AUTHORITY
Deceptive advertising office, via Liguria, 26-187 Rome

According to the Government Decree 74/92, I, Giovanni Panunzio (teacher, founder of the "Telefono Antiplagio" 3388385999 comitee and consumer) report:
On 12/22/01 the daily newspaper Libero published a whole page (pag.11) advertising a preparation called "Homeoslin", produced in Belgium (Brussels) and imported in Italy by Novasorel srl, via Provinciale 112, Crespellano (Bologna), tel. 051/757398-756216. The advertising message at issue shows a picture of "Homeoslin" said to be "based on vegetable extracts". The following words are in the text:

"thin without stress... with homeoslin you can… they would help to reach the ideal weight. Fitotherapic formula based on mothers-tintures produced according to the severe prescriptions of the German homoeopathic pharmacopoeia… With homeoslin help you can reeducate your alimentary habits and rebalance the caloric contributions, sweetly finding your line again. Homeoslin supports the reaching of the suitable corporeal weight. Homeoslin brakes the appetite, stimulates the digestion, supports a draining and termogenetic action, moderates the absorption of fat and facilitates its elimination. Homeoslin is sold in the chemist's".
The advertisement is misleading for the consumer, because it invites to auto-diagnosis and auto-medication of pathologies that require the intervention of a doctor. The claimed results of "Homeoslin" product has no scientific foundation, as the product, which is said to be composed by natural substances, does not seem able to allow any person to thin. In any case, if the product should cause significant weight losses, the treatment should be managed under medical supervision. The weight loss cannot be obtained without risks for the health and without specific sanitary inspection. Instead, "Homeoslin", does not require any medical prescription. The fact that it is shown that "Homeoslin" is sold in the chemist's could be a further deceiving element, because it associates the results shown by the promotional message to the place where principally traditional medicines (whose effectiveness is strengthened by adequate experimentation) are bought.
Last but not least, a deceiving element is the claim "based on vegetable extracts". This is in contradiction with the "homoeopathic" expression, which (considered the high dilution of homoeopathic substances) questions the real presence of the vegetable substances in the "Homeoslin" composition. That would be in net contrast with what affirmed both in the advertising message and in the label.

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