Boost Oxygen, a company known for its "recreational oxygen" products, has agreed to cough up a substantial sum following allegations of false advertising, per an announcement from District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. According to the information released, which was first reported by the Ventura County District Attorney's office, the Connecticut-based firm will shell out $413,000 in penalties and costs to resolve a civil lawsuit.
The suit, brought forth by district attorney's offices of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Monterey Counties, accused Boost Oxygen of violating California's Unfair Competition and False Advertising Laws. An investigation into the company's claims found that they had been marketing their canisters as capable to quickly knock out a wide array of health concerns which included altitude sickness and respiratory ailments—claims that turned out to be false or not backed up by tangible proof.
"We are committed to ensuring that every company doing business with Ventura County residents is honest about its products and the limitations of those products," said Nasarenko. "False advertising of this nature not only harms consumers but other businesses that are truthful in their advertising," he added in the statement sourced from Ventura County District Attorney's office. The stipulated judgment handed down by the Ventura County Superior Court dictates that Boost Oxygen must pay $330,000 in civil penalties and an extra $83,000 to cover the investigative costs.
Beyond the financial penalties, the judgment also prohibits Boost from making claims that its oxygen products can treat or lead to cure conditions such as acute mountain sickness, illnesses from smoke inhalation or air pollution, allergies, flu, and respiratory viruses including COVID-19, or improve the ability to drive at night or over long distances. Boost Oxygen was cooperative throughout the investigation, which was a joint effort by the Consumer Protection Units of the three involved county District Attorney's Offices.
