Audiocalm promised to stop tinnitus 'in weeks' — SERNAC took it to court

Audiocalm, a supplement sold in Chile by Swiss Nature Labs, was advertised as 'the definitive, scientifically proven solution to stop tinnitus in just weeks' — also promising to eliminate ringing and stress, improve concentration, reduce anxiety attacks and fix hearing problems caused by vitamin deficiency. In March 2024 SERNAC, Chile's consumer service, asked the company to substantiate the claims. No evidence was produced.

In November 2024 SERNAC denounced Swiss Nature Labs before the courts for misleading advertising and lack of substantiation, asking the tribunal to order the advertising suspended and corrective messages published. The company faced fines of up to 2,850 UTM — roughly 190 million pesos. Audiocalm was the only brand formally denounced in SERNAC's 'miracle products' sweep; three others — a leg-pain gel, a fat-blocking supplement and wellness gummies — were ordered to produce evidence.

The mechanism is the lesson: health claims trigger a substantiation duty, and silence when the regulator asks is itself the evidence. The claim 'scientifically proven' without a study behind it is not marketing emphasis — it is the charge sheet.