Vibram sued over health claims

A group in the U.S. has filed a class-action suit against Vibram, makers of the FiveFingers minimalist shoe, claming the company has used “deceptive” statements about the health benefits of barefoot running.

According to an article on the SportsOneSource.com website, five law firms have filed the suit against both Vibram USA Inc and Vibram FiveFingers LLC in the U.S. District Court in Masschusetts.

“Given that Defendants’ advertising and marketing equates barefoot running with running in FiveFingers, Defendants’ uniform deceptive statements about barefoot running are also deceptive statements about Five Fingers,” the firms say in the suit.

The suit claims the company is using deceptive health benefit claims to promote the shoes. It also asserts that the shoes may increase injury risk compared to conventional running shoes, and even compared to running barefoot. The suit also says there are no well-designed scientific studies to support these health claims.