Put a Pure Life Patch on your foot, the ads said, and the "detoxification foot pad" will cure more than 95 percent of diseases anywhere in your body in a matter of weeks. There's apparently a market for such wild claims, so last week the Better Business Bureau went on record to warn that the Utah-based maker of the Pure Life Patch has no scientific proof that it does anything at all.

The maker of the foot patch uses a post office box on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, so the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota was the one that got a call from someone in Ohio whose mother was about to sign up for a $100 per month "subscription" to the Pure Life Patch.

The BBB consulted with Dr. Greg Plotnikoff, medical director of the Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, who said no data, or any ingredient in the patch, backs up the Japan-made product's claims. The Mayo Clinic also has warned about detox foot pads, saying people should wait for some science before spending their money and sticking the things on their feet.

Pure Life Health Laboratories, aka Ultralife Fitness, aka CJW Holdings, is based in Midvale, Utah, and the BBB there has bestowed upon them an "F," its lowest rating, due to four unanswered complaints and past enforcement action by the Federal Trade Commission and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. Whistleblower couldn't reach anyone at Pure Life Health Laboratories for comment.

Tricycle recalled

One glance at the Disney Princess Plastic Racing Trike is all it takes to understand why the tricycles were recalled last week. Protruding from the handlebars are the plastic spires of a rotating castle and three pointy princess figures.

Three children suffered facial lacerations from falling on the plastic castle display, according to reports to the manufacturer, Kiddieland Toys Limited of Scituate, Mass., and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recall affects about 9,000 tricycles sold in the United States and 700 in Canada. They retailed for about $50 and were sold by Target, Target.com, J.C. Penney, Meijer and H.E.B. stores nationwide from January 2009 through this month.

Consumers are urged to take the trikes away from children and contact Kiddieland for a "free replacement handlebar with an enclosed rotating display."

The same company is recalling about 16,700 three-wheeled "Light and Sounds Children's Scooters" after two children got their fingers lacerated in the hinge mechanism. The scooters were sold at Toys 'R' Us and J.C. Penney from January 2009 through February 2011.

For more information, contact Kiddieland at www.kiddieland.com.hk or 1-800-430-5307.

COMPILED BY THE WHISTLEBLOWER TEAM