The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned advertisements for Rangan Chatterjee's blood-testing venture, Do Health, for misleading consumers. The watchdog found that adverts suggested the company's tests could diagnose or prevent serious diseases, including Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes, without sufficient evidence.
Do Health offers a £249 annual subscription for blood tests and personalized lifestyle coaching. Chatterjee, known for his BBC Breakfast role and popular podcast, promoted the service on his Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. The ASA stated it had not seen evidence to substantiate claims that the blood tests could diagnose, prevent, or address conditions like type 2 diabetes or Alzheimer's disease.
Chatterjee had referenced his father's experience with an autoimmune disease and kidney dialysis, implying the company's testing could help prevent similar serious health issues. Do Health contested this interpretation, arguing the references were to explain his interest in prevention and that a LinkedIn post was commentary rather than an advertisement. However, the ASA rejected this, concluding the post promoted a service he co-founded and that the ads were misleading due to a lack of substantiation for disease prevention and diagnosis claims.
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