An "irresponsible" internet marketing campaign for a slimming diet patch has been banned by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA).

The controversial Pink Patch claimed that wearers would experience significant weight loss just from wearing the patch, despite the ingredients not having been tested on humans.

In particular however, the internet marketing campaign's claim that the Pink Patch could result in weight loss of up to one stone in two weeks were branded as "unsubstantiated" and misleading by the ASA.

Olivia Campbell, a spokesperson for the organisation, said: "The ad was irresponsible for promoting bad medical practice of losing a stone in two weeks and failed to provide persuasive scientific evidence to substantiate its claims."

A widespread online marketing campaign with adverts appearing on websites including Facebook had been launched for the slimming product, which its makers claimed reduced cravings by releasing herbal remedies into the body.

Meanwhile, the ban of a TV advert for Snickers has this week resulted in an online backlash, with the video having been viewed a total of 250,000 times on YouTube following its removal from screens across the US.

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