3 Yahoo policy rules bear on wellness and supplement brands

Platform rules are about ad approval and account risk, not law, and policies change. These are the Yahoo (including Yahoo DSP) rules whose wording is about supplements, structure-function wording, CBD and weight-loss products. They run when Yahoo (including Yahoo DSP) is selected in the checker.

1. CG-PLT-011 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   A named prescription drug in an ad triggers advance approval on most platforms. Pinterest allows prescription drug ads only with prior permission and GLP-1 ads only from approved healthcare advertisers in the US and Canada, Snap requires prescription advertisers to be pre-approved, and TikTok requires proof of regulator approval and 18+ targeting in the US. Meta requires LegitScript certification or its own review, Meta authorization, a licensed-professional disclaimer and 18+ targeting in the US, Canada or New Zealand. LinkedIn requires prior authorization, US or Canada only, no under-18 targeting. Reddit, X, Microsoft, Amazon and Nextdoor require pre-approval, a sales representative or case-by-case review, and Yahoo accepts FDA-approved prescription drug ads in the US only.

   Source: Pinterest Advertising Guidelines (healthcare products and services, weight loss products and services); Snap Ads Category Requirements, Health (prescription medicines); TikTok Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals ad policy (United States, prescription medicine); Meta Advertising Standards, Drugs and pharmaceuticals; LinkedIn Advertising Policies; X Ads healthcare policy; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy; Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy; Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy; Nextdoor Ads Policy; Yahoo Ad Policy, Prescription drugs; Spotify Advertising Policies

   Safer wording: Get the platform's written approval first, then run the ad only on the platform that approved it, with the approved audience and age limits. Otherwise advertise the clinical service without naming the drug.

   Meta Advertising Standards, Drugs and pharmaceuticals, Nextdoor Ads Policy, Yahoo Ad Policy, Prescription drugs, Spotify Advertising Policies, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy, TikTok Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals ad policy, Snap Ads Category Requirements, Health, Pinterest Advertising Guidelines, LinkedIn Advertising Policies, X Ads healthcare policy

2. CG-PLT-016 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Pinterest bars before-and-after weight-loss imagery and Snap bars before-and-after pictures in diet, fitness and dietary supplement ads. Meta lists a before-and-after weight loss image as non-compliant, and Reddit, Amazon, Nextdoor and Outbrain bar before-and-after photos in weight loss, supplement or cosmetic ads. Microsoft, Taboola and Yahoo allow them only if realistic and honest about the time taken. The same wording also draws FTC attention to typical results.

   Source: Pinterest Advertising Guidelines (weight loss products and services); Snap Ads Category Requirements, Health (health and dietary supplements, diet and fitness); Meta Advertising Standards, Personal health and appearance; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy; Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy; Nextdoor Ads Policy; Outbrain Advertising Guidelines; Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy; Taboola Policy FAQ health and beauty; Yahoo Ad Policy, Over the counter drugs

   Safer wording: Remove the before-and-after pairing and show the clinic, the clinician or the process instead.

   Meta Advertising Standards, Personal health and appearance, Taboola Policy FAQ health and beauty, Outbrain Advertising Guidelines, Nextdoor Ads Policy, Yahoo Ad Policy, Over the counter drugs, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy, Snap Ads Category Requirements, Health, Pinterest Advertising Guidelines

3. CG-PLT-017 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Google does not allow products that imply they are as effective as prescription drugs or controlled substances, products with ephedra, or hCG promoted for weight loss or weight control. Amazon, Microsoft, Reddit and Yahoo bar claims that a non-prescription or supplement product is as effective as, or can replace, a prescription drug, and Meta, Reddit and Yahoo list ephedra or hCG among unsafe ingredients.

   Source: Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy (unapproved substances); Meta Advertising Standards, Unsafe substances; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy; Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy; Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy; Yahoo Ad Policy, Over the counter drugs

   Safer wording: Describe what the product is and what it contains, without comparing it to a prescription drug, and drop ephedra and hCG weight-loss wording.

   Meta Advertising Standards, Unsafe substances, Yahoo Ad Policy, Over the counter drugs, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy

None of our sample wording triggers a Yahoo (including Yahoo DSP) rule, so no example is shown. The rules above are still part of the set.

44 federal and general rules matched to wellness and supplement brands run next to the Yahoo (including Yahoo DSP) ones. The ones that weigh most:

1. CG-DIS-002 · Blocks approval · Citation checked against stored text

   A treatment claim for a named disease is a drug claim for a product, and needs support for a clinical service.

   Source: FDCA 201(g)(1); 21 CFR 101.93(g); FTC Act section 5

   Safer wording: For a clinical service, state who delivers care and what is offered ("our licensed clinicians evaluate and manage ..."). For a supplement, remove the disease reference.

   21 CFR 101.93(g) · Needs counsel review

2. CG-DIS-013 · Blocks approval · Citation checked against stored text

   A pain-relief claim for a supplement or wellness product treats a symptom of disease, which is a drug claim. For an approved over-the-counter drug or a clinical service, check that the wording matches the label or what you can support.

   Source: FDCA 201(g)(1); 21 CFR 101.93(g); FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance

   Safer wording: For a drug, use the approved indication from the label. For a service, describe the care and say results vary.

   21 CFR 101.93(g) · Needs counsel review

3. CG-DIS-019 · Blocks approval · Citation checked against stored text

   Claims to slow, stop or prevent a serious disease, or to restore function after spinal cord injury, are disease claims that need drug approval and evidence.

   Source: FDCA 201(g)(1); 21 CFR 101.93(g); FDA consumer alerts on stem cell and dietary supplement disease claims; FTC Act section 5

   Safer wording: Remove disease slowing, prevention and recovery claims. Describe a supplement by its nutrients only, and a stem cell service only as an investigational study.

   21 CFR 101.93(g) · Needs counsel review

4. CG-DIS-022 · Blocks approval · Citation checked against stored text

   Copy aimed at people who have a named disease ("Suffering from Crohn's?", "women with endometriosis love this") tells the reader the product is for that disease. FDA reads the intended use from this kind of audience targeting, and it makes a supplement an unapproved drug.

   Source: 21 CFR 101.93(g); 21 CFR 201.128 - intended use; FDCA 201(g)(1); FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance

   Safer wording: Describe the product and the normal function it supports, and do not address people by their disease. A clinic may describe who it treats and that results vary.

   21 CFR 101.93(g), 21 CFR 201.128 · Needs counsel review

Everything for the industry is on the wellness and supplement brands page, and all Yahoo (including Yahoo DSP) rules for any industry are on the Yahoo (including Yahoo DSP) page.