PITTSBURGH -- General Nutrition Centers, Inc. said it has taken
taken steps to protect its Gold Card member lists.
The information was removed from a Web site that listed it, GNC said. Suppliers have been told not to release customer data, which was how the site obtained the information, according to GNC.
Two former GNC executives, one of whom has returned to the
company, owned businesses that offered lists of customers'
names and personal information. One of the executives said his company got the
information through a legal loophole in the agreement between GNC
and its suppliers.
GNC said it does not sell customer lists, though it does make
names available for one-time mailings "to customers who
indicate on their application that they may receive this
information."
About 4.8 million GNC customers are enrolled in the Gold Card loyalty program,
which offers discounts on vitamins, diet pills and other products.
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published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
