Monday, June 11, 2007

Electronic pest control still requires inventor. Uncool.

You would think by 2008, we would have the capacity to somehow electronically get rid of insects, fleas, & pests.

Staff of the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Enforcement announced that they have sent warning letters to more than 60 manufacturers and retailers of ultrasonic pest-control devices, stating that efficacy claims about those products must be supported by scientific evidence. FTC staff reviewed print and catalog advertisements and conducted a "surf" of Internet sites marketing such devices. They found that many of the advertisements make explicit claims about the products' ability to eliminate rodents or repel insects. According to staff, these types of claims may not be in compliance with the FTC Act, which prohibits false and deceptive advertising. (src FTC)

Summary: Various devices on the market claim to repel bugs and rodents with ultrasonic or electromagnetic energy. These devices have repeatedly failed to do what they claim to do in scientific trials.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist

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