Himalaya Wellness Company - Himalaya

Recommendation: Not Upheld | Medium: Industry Member

The ASCI had approached the advertiser for its response in addressing the grievances of the complainant and forwarded the details of the complaint, verbatim, to the advertiser with a request to respond to the same. The advertiser was offered an option to seek an Informal Resolution (IR) of the complaint by modifying or withdrawing the claims in the advertisement, or alternately to substantiate the claims with supporting data. The advertiser was also offered an opportunity for a telecon with the ASCI Secretariat, which they did not avail and submitted their response. The advertiser in their response stated that, “Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash was tested against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) & S. aureus in a third-party laboratory accredited by NABL. The testing was done as per the standard testing protocols. The antibacterial efficacy of the product against P. acne and S. aureus was tested for 1 min contact time and the results confirmed the fact that the product is effective and Kills 99.9% pimple causing bacteria in 1 min. Numerous established brands within the acne skincare market also substantiate their claims with in vitro testing against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), the bacterium primarily responsible for acne. We would like to modify the claim, “India’s most loved face wash for preventing pimples and having healthy skin”. As claim support data, the advertiser submitted the following documents – (1) Research papers on different kinds of pimple causing skin acne, (2) In vitro test P.acne- third party data, (3) Examples of brands in the pimple/acne category making similar claim based on invitro testing, (4) Ancient Sanskrit Lexicon on Ayurveda, (5) Clinical study to evaluate efficacy of Purifying Neem Face Wash in prevention and reduction of acne in healthy adults. The advertiser’s response along with the claim support data was referred to an Independent technical expert of ASCI for an opinion in the matter. The expert’s opinion was shared with the complainant and the advertiser for making additional submissions. The complainant did not respond to the expert’s opinion, while the advertiser acknowledged it but did not submit any additional data. The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) viewed the Amazon advertisement (https://www.amazon.in/Himalaya-Herbals-Purifying-Neem-200ml/dp/B01IMZHUPC?th=1), the Website advertisement (https://himalayawellness.in/products/himalaya-purifying-neem-face-wash?srsltid=AfmBOoqQDfSHzvltyvaa1xBlqg9OmuzG3wQTHfSNEoJ5qbtgewu5aPT8), considered the complaint, the advertiser’s response along with the claim support data, and the expert’s opinion presented at the meeting. Claim – “Kills 99.9% pimple causing bacteria in 1 minute” The CCC discussed that the advertiser has provided a published article from the Clinics in Dermatology journal as evidence to support their claim. The article explains that the presence of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria on the skin is an important factor in causing acne. In addition, the advertiser has provided other published literature that supports the role of P. acnes in the development of acne vulgaris. The CCC further discussed that the product - `Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash’ was tested in an in-vitro study to evaluate its antibacterial efficacy against two specific microorganisms: Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). This study was conducted by a third-party laboratory accredited by NABL. The results showed a significant reduction in the presence of both microorganisms after just one minute of contact with the product. Specifically, P. acnes was reduced by 99.9%, and S. aureus was also reduced by 99.9%. These findings demonstrate that the Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash reduces the presence of both P. acnes and S. aureus within one minute of use. Based on the advertiser’s response with the supporting data provided, the CCC concluded that the claim, “Kills 99.9% pimple causing bacteria in 1 minute”, was substantiated. The said claim is not in contravention of Chapter I of the ASCI Code. This complaint was NOT UPHELD. Claim – “India’s most loved face wash for preventing pimples and having healthy skin”. The CCC observed that the advertiser has not provided verifiable comparative data, market survey or research data demonstrating that a significant number of consumers prefer their product over other face washes in India for preventing pimples and promoting healthy skin. There was no evidence to show that the advertiser’s product holds the highest recognition or preference in the market compared to other face washes. In the absence of claim support data, the CCC concluded that the said claim was not substantiated. The source and date for the claim is not indicated in the advertisement. The claim is misleading by exaggeration and is likely to lead to widespread disappointment in the minds of consumers. The said claim contravened Chapter I, Clauses 1.1, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 of the ASCI Code. This complaint was UPHELD The CCC noted that the advertiser has agreed to withdraw the said claim.