Oprah Winfrey Sues Resveratrol Seller

Anyone who surfs the Web has probably seen the ads featuring Oprah Winfrey and her resident on-air physician, Dr. Mehmet Oz. "For a limited time only, we are giving away two 100% risk-free trials of the best resveratrol product on the internet," read one recent ad, referring to a red-wine extract that some supplement makers believe has life-extending powers.

The ad included a large photo of Oz and said "I take resveratrol myself, and love it." The words "as seen on Oprah" were included on a banner at the bottom of the ad. It turned out neither Winfrey nor Oz endorsed the product, and the so-called free trial was anything but free for many of the consumers who fell for the marketing ploy. The ads trapped thousands of customers into expensive monthly subscriptions for resveratrol and other supplements, such as acai, a Brazilian berry extract that has been credited with promoting weight loss.