Republic of the Philippines

Philippine Science High School—Bicol Region Campus

Goa, Camarines Sur

An Analysis of Fraudulent Health Products

Presented by:
Anna Isabel A. Francisco
10-Electron
Background of the Product
The Kiyomi Kinoki Detox Foot Pads, in order to reduce accumulation of toxins in the
body and reducing the chance of harmful effects of toxins, release most of these at the feet after
consistent usage. According to its description in mybeautysecretsusa.com it claims as “the
newest & safest detoxification therapy within the market today.” It also says that it “contain
natural ingredients which stimulate acupuncture points through the combined action of bamboo
vinegar, far-infrared energy and negative ion emissions”. It is sold at a price of USD 14.99 for a
box of ten pads and at USD 24.99 for a box of twenty while in Philippine currency ranges around
PHP 95- PHP 945. Ingredients listed are: oak vinegar, bamboo vinegar, tourmaline, houttyunia
cordata, eucalyptus, chitosan, agicarus mushroom, and saurus chinesis.
Instructions for its application are as follows: It is to be applied to clean and dry feet one
hour before bedtime. The paper on the adhesive sheet is then peeled off and the latter is placed
on the soles of the feet. After a full sleep, the pad is removed and the soles are wiped to remove
stickiness. Used patches appear dark green or grayish because it “absorbed toxins and waste
matter from the body.” It is used each night until discoloration of the pad subsides. Once it has
lightened, it is applied once or twice a week for maintenance.
It claims to have a lot of benefits. First is dispels toxins and maintains beauty. It relaxes
muscles and tendons and eliminates internal moisture. It replenishes vital essence and
strengthens the kidney. It shapes and beautifies the body. It promotes sleeping and relieves
fatigue. It increases a person’s energy level. It reduces aches pains and tiredness. It improves
blood circulation. It can also be applied on other parts of the body like the back, knees and
elbows.

Analysis of the Product

Numerous of sites and articles have explained that the product is in fact, a hoax and a
fake. Stephen Barrett, M.D. “Detox” products like these, states Barrett, have no studies to
support what they claim like what the identification of what they claim to remove, the measure
of its level in the body, and if whether these substances have their levels reduced in the body.
Real detoxification according to him is done in the liver, the kidneys and the sweat glands. Their
role in ridding in the body of unwanted objects cannot be changed or outdone by applying foot
pads.
In an article by ABC News, Dr. George Friedman-Jimenez, the director of the Bellevue /
New York University Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic in New York City,
feared that sick people will put off getting proper treatment thinking detox pads would work. He
says that it is possible that the placebo effect caused people to think they felt better after using
the pads. He also says that one cannot pull toxins out of the body through the feet.
 The foot pads, with similar product Avon detox patches, was brought to NMS Labs, a
national laboratory in Willow Grove, Pa., that performs toxicology testing, analyzed what could
be found on the pads by a sample population. The lab tested for heavy metals like arsenic and
mercury and 23 solvents, including benzene, tolulene and styrene and found none of these on the
used pads. Moisture in the feet can automatically darken the pad, further demonstrated by John
Stossel the writer of the article and said that distilled water could make the pad dark in seconds.
In a later test, a trace of lead were found on five pads, however, it did not come from the testers.
Friedman-Jimenez says that trace amounts of lead in the dust caused by lead-painted apartments
could have gotten on their feet- meaning it’s not form the person’s body.
Another experiment by the National Public Radio in California conducted something
similar. Sarah Varney had her husband wear the pads overnight and sent them to a lab for tests.
The lab found out that the heavy metal content of the used pads were same as that of an unused
pad, proving it doesn’t “suck out any toxins.” She also held an unused pad over a pot of boiling
water and caused the pad to turn black concluding that the results are from a chemical in the pad
that reacts to moisture.
The Better Business Bureau has also given the Kinoki Detox Foot Pads Company an
“unsatisfactory rating”.
In 2009, the Federal Trade Commission charged Yehuda (“Juda”) Levin, Baruch Levin,
and their company, Xacta 3000 Inc. with deceptive advertising. The case was settled with a
stipulated agreement under which Yehuda Levin and the company were not allowed from
promoting or selling any dietary supplement, food, drug, or medical device, and from helping
others do the same. The defendants agreed to a judgment of $14.5 million, which was the total
revenues from the sale of the pads. However, based on their inability to pay, the entire judgment
was suspended but will become due if they are found to have misrepresented their financial
condition.

Conclusion
Based on the articles above and compare them with the claims of the product, we can
clearly see that the product does, in fact, have no effect on the wearer, who was only stimulated
by the placebo effect. Kudos to the media who pushed through its efforts on proving the validity
of the product. It also more shocking that there was no change with regards to the used and
unused pads, destroying the claims of its detoxification. It is only proper that the company has to
pay for its wrongdoings and quackery. So instead of wasting money and being tricked by
malicious and fraudulent products, let us all be wise consumers.