I don’t know if you’ve ever tried Airborne,  but it’s an herbal supplement that was created by a teacher who constantly got sick from her students.  When it first hit the market, it advertised itself as a way to prevent colds.  Even though I didn’t really think taking it would prevent colds, I’ve used it over the years with some wishful thinking.  Well, it now looks like those fizzing tablets provided no benefits at all.

“There’s no credible evidence that what’s in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment,” David Schardt, a nutritionist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in a written statement this week. “Airborne is basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that’s been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed.”

The company just settled a $23.3 million dollar class-action lawsuit.  For customers who’s bought this product, this means you can get a FULL refund for all Airborne products you’ve purchased between May 2001 and November 2007, provided you have receipts.  Of course, who’s going to be anal enough to save a Trader Joe’s receipt from three years ago, right?  Not I, that’s for sure.  Even if you DON’T have a receipt, you can still get a refund on up to six products!  The company will give you $10.50 per box of Seasonal Airborne, $2.75 per box of Gummi Airborne, and $6.99 for all other Airborne products.  Not bad.

For more information and to make a claim, go here.  It took me less than three minutes to submit my online claim.  From what I can tell, it’s only for people who have a U.S. address.