Are pomegranates really that great?

This article caught my eye today, given that we were just talking about ethics in class! The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has just filed a complaint against POM (you know, that pomegranate-based juice they sell next to Odwalla in the produce section of the grocery store) for "false and deceptive claims" that it can treat and prevent diseases.

But, that's not the end of the story. POM responded by suing the FTC and saying it disagrees with the FTC's accusations and will continue to share its research results on the health benefits of drinking POM. It also threw in the oft-cited "freedom of speech" grievance.

I think that POM is playing a pretty good game of issues management by putting the focus of its research claims on its benefit to consumers. It is saying that it has a right to share the "encouraging" results of its research with the public.

So who can consumers trust? POM or the FTC. Both have obvious things to gain and lose from their complaints against each other. POM stands to lose its credibility and consumer loyalty. But the FTC also stands to (potentially) lose in a more nefarious way--lobbyist funding and support from the pharmaceuticals industry, which would love to see POM's claims ring false. Now, that's just my own supposition, but what do you think?

FTC v. POM