Vitamin firm 'provoked IQ claims row'

(First Edition)

THE managing director of the firm at the centre of arguments over whether vitamins can boost children's IQs admitted yesterday that part of the marketing strategy was to provoke controversy.

Dr Robert Woodward, chairman and managing director of Larkhall Natural Health, of Putney Bridge Road, London, told the stipendiary magistrate at Shrewsbury: 'We wanted a controversy. We wanted to stir up a hornet's nest, which indeed we did. I wanted to be controversial. I make no bones about that.'

The firm, charged as Larkhall Laboratories, denies three charges brought by Shropshire County Council's trading standards department alleging that packaging and leaflets gave a false impression of the effectiveness of the tablets in boosting children's IQ.

The hearing continues today.