The customer complaints were unrelenting: With every step they took, their shoe insoles made a very offensive sound:

The sound of someone farting.

"<i>It very nearly put us out of business</i>" said Garret Luna, an officer with Cousy Products Inc.

The company had to throw away at least 35,000 pairs, said attorney Robert Cassuel.

Cousy Products Inc. sued a former supplier, Marc Labs, accusing it of delivering the wrong chemical that caused bubbles to form inside the insoles.

When people stepped on them, the inserts produced "<i>a flatulence-like noise</i>" according to a report by a Cousy's chemist, John Lubo.

These <i>farting</i> shoes have costed the company $200,000 to $250,000 in loses.