Infomercial Brands: kiNOki

Google “infomercial foot pads” and the first page of search results speaks to immense customer dissatisfaction and charges of false claims with this “Japanese-based” product.

Billed as the “ancient Japanese secret to perfect health,” the Kinoki Detox Foot Pads claim to detoxify your body while you sleep through small pads that you place on the soles of your feet. And even though the FTC has charged the manufacturers with deceptive advertising, the name of the product is interesting from a structural perspective.

Take a look at the balance of the name as it begins and ends with the letters “ki”. Several sources cite “ki” as referencing energy or spirit. The letters are noted as the name of the Sumerian goddess of the Earth, and the phonetically similar “Qi” in Japanese connotes a life force or spiritual energy. All positive associations for a product that is supposed to renew and refresh your energy by ridding your body of negative toxins. Oh, oops, the company embedded the letters “no” within the reference of a balanced life force. Guess they were telling us the truth after all.