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Q. What do the terms "clinically tested" and "clinically proven" really mean?—Dave Boswell, Arnold, MD
A. The Federal Trade Commission doesn't have a specific legal definition for either term. And the agency doesn't generally screen advertisements before the public sees them, so advertisers don't have to prove beforehand that the claims they make are truthful. (One exception: prescription drugs, which the Food and Drug Administration approves before they're marketed to consumers.) The FTC's standard is that companies should back up their claims with "competent and reliable scientific evidence," which can vary from one case to another depending on the assertions made.
For related information about prescription drugs, check Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs.
Send your questions to ConsumerReports.org/askourexperts.
This article also appeared in the February 2015 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
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