Aspirin-A-Day May Not Keep Doctor Away

FTC proposes settlement with Bayer over Aspirin claims.

The Federal Trade Commission has announced a proposed settlement with Bayer concerning the company's claims about aspirin's ability to prevent heart attacks. If a New Jersey judge approves the settlement, Bayer will spend $1 million for new advertisements warning of potential problems aspirin can cause.

"This sends a significant message that the FTC is back in the business of ordering corrective ads, something they had gotten away from," says Dan Schwartz, a former FTC attorney who represents clients before the antitrust division of the Justice Department and the FTC for the Washington law firm Bryan Cave.

In earlier advertisements, Bayer has claimed aspirin could prevent heart attacks in virtually all adults. Federal officials say aspirin can cause internal bleeding and death in some people, and Bayer will also be required to publish brochures that explain that risk.

"The direct benefit is that consumers who use aspirin for the health of their heart will go to the doctor and find out if it's the right thing to do," says Schwartz. "In the long-term, people will be a little more skeptical when they see advertisements of non-prescription drugs."