Geritol Tonic - Photo 158 Old Familiar Memories - Photo 158
Geritol Tonic

Geritol is a United States trademarked name for various dietary supplements, past and present. Geritol is a brand name for several vitamin complexes plus iron or multi-mineral products in both liquid form and tablets, containing from 9.5 to 18 mg of iron per daily dose. The product has been promoted from almost the beginning of the mass media era as a cure for "iron-poor tired blood." In the early 20th century, some medical doctors and other health professionals felt that much of the tiredness often associated with old age was due to iron deficiency anemia.

Geritol was the subject of years of investigation starting in 1959 by the Federal Trade Commission. In 1965, the FTC ordered the makers of Geritol to disclose that Geritol would relieve symptoms of tiredness only in persons who suffer from iron deficiency anemia, and that the vast majority of people who experience such symptoms do not have such a deficiency. Geritol's claims were discredited in court findings as "conduct amounted to gross negligence and bordered on recklessness," and heavily penalized with fines totaling $812,000 ($4,313,826 as of 2015), the largest FTC fine up to that date (1973)

Geritol Tonic
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