Swisse Defamed by ABC Show, The Checkout

In an article published recently in the Sydney Morning Herald, it was reported that in a writ filed with the Victorian Supreme Court on April 26, Avni Sali, the father of Swisse chief executive Radek Sali, claims were made that the ABC show, The Checkout defamed him by saying he ‘‘manipulated’’ clinical tests of a Swisse appetite suppressant to benefit the company.

In the segment from the ABC, broadcast on March 21, presenter Craig Reucassel is seen saying the case of Swisse’s product ‘‘highlights everything that’s wrong with the regulation of natural medicines in Australia’’.

Reucassel, his Chaser colleague Julian Morrow, who also appears on and produces The Checkout, executive producer Nick Murray and the ABC are named as defendants.

In addition to asking the court to order the removal of the segment from the ABC website, Dr Sali seeks aggravated damages because the defendants ‘‘were recklessly indifferent as to the truth of the program’’ and broadcast the segment without contacting him or ‘‘making any proper enquiries as to the truth of the program’’.

The episode heavily criticised Swisse’s Ultiboost Appetite Suppressant, which contains an extract from an Indian cactus.

Regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration cancelled the registration of the product after the episode went to air.

However, Swisse evaded the ban by changing the product’s name to Ultiboost Hunger Control and it remains on shop shelves.

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