Kids vitamins are only one-thousandth as healthy as their packages claim

Cartoon character-themed vitamins that look like candy but taste like chalk have long been a disappointment for kids. And it turns out that the vitamins aren't even that healthy. Luckily, parents can finally trade those useless pills in for cash. The United States Federal Trade Commission announced this week that parents who bought Disney- or Marvel Hero-themed vitamins for their kids are eligible for a refund.

The announcement comes after the FTC settled with manufacturers of the vitamins for $2.1 million last year for making false advertising claims, the Boston globe reported. 

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The Rexall Sundown and NatureSmart brands, for instance, claimed that their vitamins contained a high dose of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid associated with many health benefits. But the amount of DHA in the tablets actually equaled only one-thousandth of what the packages claimed, CNN reported.

"Consumers should carefully evaluate advertising claims for vitamins and other dietary supplements," the FTC warns, along with instructions about how to get the refund.