Owner of Enzyte Gets 25 Years In Prison!
August 30, 2008
By Scott Welch
Steve Warshak who is the founder of Enzyte (the scam sex pill supplement company), has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in fraudulent business practices, which federal officials say swindled consumers out of more than $400 million dollars. Warshak and company (even his mom) were charged with deceptive ads for Enzyte, as well as for an automatic credit card charging scheme. Overall, Warshak was charged with more than 90 counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, and his company was ordered to hand over $500,000 in profits and $93,000 in fines.
Enzyte Did NOT Let Customers Get A Refund!
According to website The Consumerist , the scam involved preying on customer’s reluctance to admit that they had ordered the “male enhancement” pills. Customers ordered the pills, but were unable to cancel or get a refund. A former VP of the company testified that Warshak required customers to provide notarized documents from a doctor proving that they had small genitals in order to get a refund! I think a picture or note from their wives would have done the job don’t you? If customers complained, he said, employees were instructed to “make it as difficult as possible ” for them to get their money back. In some cases, Teegarden said, Warshak required customers to produce a notarized statement from a doctor certifying Enzyte did not work.
“He said it was extremely unlikely someone would get anything notarized saying they had a small penis,” Teegarden said.
The judge for the case prefaced the Warshak’s sentencing with a statement about how the “Smiling Bob” (who was the charactor used in their commercials) preyed on customers’ sexual deficiencies. Warshak was denied bail during pending appeal of his conviction and has until Sept 29 to surrender to prison.
To read more about the trouble this company has been in over the last year, click HERE .
SOURCE: Natural Products Insider
Gaspari Nutrition Signs Sergio Oliva’s Son!
August 29, 2008
I was on MuscleMag International’s web forum (www.eMusclemag.com ) and forum member Curt James found a great piece of news. It turns out that Gaspari Nutrition signed Sergio Oliva’s son to a supplement endorsement contract (see http://gasparinutrition.com/news-787.html ). This is a great sign and one I was waiting to see which company would jump at since his win at the NPC JR Nationals. I strongly believe that dollar for dollar, teens (if they’re REALLY built) are the best supplement endorsement athletes.
Top 5 Reason’s To Sign Teens To Supplement Contracts
- They haven’t lost their hair yet.
- They don’t yet have a sun-damaged face that looks as tough as a chewed boot. Being young in the face and not leathery makes them look more appealing in ads.
- Their contracts are inexpensive.
- They just want their picture taken so they’re easy to work with.
- They’re not famous (yet) so they’re thankful for everything you do for them. As bodybuilders get more fame, their ego’s get big.
- Teens identify with other teens. We all remember what Arnold looked like at age 17 when we were teenagers. Teens love comparing themselves to others their age to see how they measure up.
Former Weight Watchers Employee Sues Company
August 29, 2008
Weight Watchers a leader in the multi-billion dollar weight-loss industry, may in fact assist in weight loss but at what cost? Regina Nathe, in an unprecedented lawsuit has sued Weight Watchers alleging that the food it sells as a part of its overall healthy lifestyle may in fact be killing people! She was employed by Weight Watchers as a group leader for nineteen years and claims to be an expert in nutrition. Weight Watchers immediately moved to dismiss the lawsuit but the motion was denied and the Judge allowed the case to proceed. Weight Watchers, Ms. Nathe alleges, has misled its customers through promotions, brochures, press releases and on its website into believing that its snack foods are healthy and will result in weight loss when in fact the food contains trans fats, partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup all of which she may promote health problems including cancer, high blood pressure and death. Trans fats have recently been banned by the State of California. Weight Watchers itself has stopped using Trans fats in its products. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial early next year.
Point Of View
Being the “group leader” at Weight Watchers for 19 years definitely exposed Regina Nathe to a host of marketing practices the company used to become a weight-loss leader. As a nation, scientists have learned a great deal about the harmful effects of trans fats and high fructose corn syrup over the past 19 years. Obviously, scientists around the world were not fully aware of the negative heath effects of these substances until recently. As more research has come in, more and more food companies like Weight Watchers, McDonalds, Kraft, and many others are making changes to their food. However, if Regina Mathe had such a moral issue with the company, why did she keep working there for so long? It’s only after she has left that she has launched a suit against her former employer. It would be interesting to see if she’d be willing to donate 100% of the case settlement money to fund obesity research (minus her legal costs of course). Do you think she is just in suing her former employer? Please add your opinion to the comment section below this post.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
Ayurvedic Supplements Contain Lead, Mercury or Arsenic?
August 27, 2008
What The Fuck Is Ayurvedic Medicine Anyway?
Good question but you didn’t have to swear! Ayurveda is a form of medicine that originated in India more than 2,000 years ago and relies heavily on herbal products. In India, an estimated 80 percent of the population practices Ayurveda. In the United States, Ayurvedic remedies have increased in popularity and are available from South Asian markets, health food stores, and on the Internet. Ayurvedic medicines are divided into two major types: herbal only and Rasa Shastra. Rasa Shastra is an ancient practice of deliberately combining herbs with metals, minerals and gems. Ayurvedic experts in India believe that if Rasa Shastra medicines made with metals such as lead and mercury are properly prepared and administered, they will be safe and therapeutic.
Research Details
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine identified 25 Web sites featuring 673 Ayurvedic medicines. They randomly selected and purchased 193 products made by 37 different manufacturers. Overall, 20.7 percent of Ayurvedic medicines contained detectable lead, mercury and/or arsenic. U.S. and Indian manufactured products were equally likely to contain toxic metals. Rasa Shastra compared with non-Rasa Shastra medicines were more than twice as likely to contain metals and had higher concentrations of lead and mercury. Among products containing metals, 95 percent were sold by U.S. Web sites and 75 percent claimed that they had tested for heavy metals. All metal-containing products exceeded one or more standards for acceptable daily intake of toxic metals.
"This study highlights the need for Congress to revisit the way dietary supplements are regulated in the U.S." said lead author Robert Saper, MD. "… Our first priority must be the safety of the public. Herbs and supplements with high levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic should not be available for sale on the Internet or elsewhere." he said.
The medicines which are supposed to cure sickness should not promote another illness due to the presence of toxic materials such as lead.
SOURCE: Science Daily
Mushroom Extract Boosts Immune System
August 27, 2008
By Scott Welch
Researchers have discovered a rare mushroom extract that will actually boost the immune system. I know I know, you’re thinking “scam” already aren’t you? Well supposedly, there’s actually some substance to this stuff, or at least Yale medical researchers think so! The extract is called “AHCC” which is short for “Active Hexose Correlated Compound”. AHCC is a oligosaccharide (i.e. carb) that is extracted from several mushroom species and has been recommended to the elderly by Japanese health professionals since 1987. It is one of the
leading immune-enhancing supplements in Japan and is manufactured by companies such as the "Amino Up Chemical Company" (see product on left). The market there is estimated to be worth more than $400 million worldwide! However, the supplement is still establishing itself in European and North American markets.
Study Method
Over a 30 and 60 day period, the researchers measured the production of two immune system factors called “cytokines”. One of these cytokines is called “Interferon” (a.k.a. IFN-y) and the other is “Tumor Necrosis Factor” (a.k.a. TNF-a). These are produced by your body to prevent the growth of abnormal and cancerous cells.Study Results
The study found that the production of these two cytokines increased within four weeks of taking AHCC. What’s even more interesting is that AHCC continued to boost the immune system for at least four weeks after AHCC consumption stopped! Hokkaido University is exploring the value of AHCC in cancer therapy, and in particular reducing the side-effects of chemotherapy.“AHCC continues to demonstrate its essential role for healthy immune function, ” said Fred Pescatore, MD, of the Center for Integrative and Complementary Medicine, and medical director at the US AHCC Research Association in response to research presented at this year’s symposium.
Final Thoughts
It’ll be interesting to see if this supplement makes it’s way into athlete’s gym bags. If it does in fact boost the immune system, it should “in theory” help athletes fight off infection and stay healthy. Remember, our immune system is also what’s responsible for repairing muscle tissue after a workout. If you’re sick, you’re not recovering from exercise as fast as you could be.
Supplement Company Selling Oregano Pays $2.5 Million For False Claims
August 27, 2008
Another shady supplement company has made false claims and has finally been nailed! The marketers of a line of oregano supplements (ya, the stuff you put in spagetti sauce) has agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle FTC charges that claims regarding their oregano oil and capsules were false and unsubstantiated in violation of federal law.
The FTC Complaint
According to the FTC complaint, North American Herb & Spice Company and its owner (and author of the book “Nutrition Tests For Better Health “, Judy Kay Gray, falsely claimed that the products Oreganol P73 , Super Strength Oreganol P73 , 
and Oregacyn (currently sold as OregaRESP) are:
“,,,Scientifically proven to prevent or treat colds and flu. The defendants also claimed that the products boost the immune system and kill a variety of germs and pathogens, including avian bird flu virus, hepatitis C, Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, mold, parasites and yeasts.”
Sold at prices ranging from $29.99 to $69.99, the products purportedly contain something called “P73 ” which is described as wild, handpicked Mediterranean oregano. The products were advertised on websites and in various health magazines.
SOURCE: NUTRACEUTICALS WORLD
Patrick Arnold Brings Back 1-AD
August 26, 2008
By Scott Welch
A few years back, baseball homerun hitter Mark McGwire was taking a pro-hormone supplement called Androstenedione a.k.a. “Andro” to boost his testosterone levels. This substance converted into the hormone testosterone once your liver processed it. This controversy got tons of mainstream press as everyone wanted to know exactly what the heck this stuff was that he was taking to hit so many homeruns. But what didn’t get as much press was the story of a chemist working behind the scenes in Chicago named Patrick 
Arnold (pictured on left). Patrick had looked closely at the DSHEA laws governing supplements and found a loophole which allowed anything not classified as a drug before 1994 to be sold as a dietary supplement – provided these substance were found in nature! So, he moved full speed ahead to hunt for old steroids that were not brought to market that were also found in nature. So in the case of Andro, it was not an approved drug before 1994 and it was found naturally in Scotch Pine Trees! Therefore, it was “found in nature” as the law stated so it could be sold as a supplement legally. Patrick partnered with anesthesiologist Dr. Scott Connelly who was the owner of MET-Rx at the time. The two formed a division of MET-Rx called “Substrate Solutions” and began introducing a bunch of different prohomone combinations. Over time, other companies found new prohormones such as: Nor-Diol, OHAT, ADT, 1-MT and 1-AD.
Prohormone Heroes
The discovery or at least the commercialization of the various prohomones can be traced back to the following guys:
- Pat Arnold - CEO of Ergopharm
- Bruce Knellar - one of the key formulators for Gaspari Nutrition
- Eric Marchewitz - CEO of LG Sciences
- William Llewellyn - CEO of Molecular Nutrition
- Derek Cornelius - former owner of Syntrax Solutions.
- Dan Amato - CEO of Fizogen SDI Labs and also Cibexo Labs
- Bill Roberts - former formulator for Biotest
- L. Rea - CEO of ALR Industries
- Jeff McCarrell - coowner of Nutrex
- Jack Owac - owner of VPX
- And of course the gang at Zoe Labs
But with the flood of dozens of prohormones that has hit the market, there were a few that really stood out. One such prohormones was the original 1-AD that was originally was released in 2001. It did not take long for people to realize that the stuff was not like the prohormones. Gains of 15 pounds were common. Of course, this stuff was really not a supplement but rather a supplement that converted into a steroid once it hit your liver. But all good things must come to an end however and in 2005 1-androstenedione and 1-androstenediol (the two versions of the original 1-AD) were added to the Anabolic Steroid Control Act and made controlled substances. It seemed that the good old days were officially in the history books.
1-AD Is Back!
Patrick Arnold has managed to pull one last rabbit out of his hat. There is still a naturally occurring precursor to the original 1-AD that converts with high efficiency that is not yet banned. This precursor is not on the list of controlled anabolic steroids. It’s called 1-androstenolone and it will convert into 1-AD once it hits your liver, which will convert into Testosterone. Yes, two steps rather than the good old days with just one chemical step being needed. The product is only sold on ErgoPharm’s website (www.ergopharm.com).
I’m personally not a fan of using pro-hormones as they carry the same side effects as other oral steroids do, but they’re indeed quite popular.
Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals Employees Admit Importing and Distributing Drugs
August 26, 2008
If you aren’t familiar with the “Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals” case or haven’t been reading the Supplement Genius blog, click HERE first, then read the following:
Employees once working at Georgia-based supplement company “Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals ” makers of the very popular Fastin , Lipodrene , and Stamina Rx supplements, have now gone to trial and things aren’t looking good for these dudes! The company itself, as well as Jared Wheat, Stephen Smith, Tomasz Holda, and Sergio Oliveira all pleaded guilty to conspire to import and distribute adulterated, mislabeled and unapproved new drugs, and to commit mail and wire fraud. If you’ve been around the bodybuilding industry 
for a while you may recognize Sergio Oliveira as the former owner of BODY International magazine and a guy that’s pushed the supposed “health” benefits GHB, GBL, and other GHB precursors to unsuspecting bodybuilders for years.
United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the pleas,
“These defendants set up an offshore manufacturing facility where, in unsanitary conditions, they reproduced leading pharmaceutical products for importation into the United States, all without FDA approval or licensing from the rightful patent holders. Their motive in flouting the law, violating patents and exposing their customers to unknown health risks was greed, pure and simple. I commend the FDA and the DEA for their thorough investigation in this case. The Department of Justice and these agencies will continue to work hard to protect American consumers from such fraudsters.”
FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Special Agent In Charge David Bourne said,
“As in this conviction, the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations actively pursues those who deceive the public by manufacturing and selling unapproved and unregulated medications which may pose risks to the health of consumers. We are committed to investigating and preventing those who use trickery and deceit to illegally and unscrupulously sell medications over the internet at the expense of the public health.”
According to Nahmias and the information presented in court: The defendants in this case established a manufacturing facility in a small park in rural Belize. Inside what was essentially a four-room home, the defendants produced unauthorized generic versions of such popular prescription pharmaceuticals as Xanax, Valium , Ambien , Vioxx , Zoloft , Viagra , and Cialis . The manufacturing processes complied with none of the sanitary, hygienic, or quality-control regulations issued by the FDA, nor had the defendants obtained approval from the FDA or licenses from the patent-holders to make such drugs. Nonetheless, the defendants made the drugs and marketed them, primarily via the internet, to customers in the United States and elsewhere. The drugs were made available without prescription and also without disclosure of the unsanitary manufacturing conditions. The defendants realized millions of dollars of sales before the scheme was initially disrupted by Belizean authorities and ultimately ended by U.S. authorities.
United States District Court Judge Jack T. Camp accepted today’s guilty pleas in federal court in Newnan. All defendants pleaded to conspiring to violate federal prohibitions against mail and wire fraud and the importation and distribution of adulterated, unapproved, and mislabeled drugs. This conspiracy offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 . The company itself will face a maximum of five years on probation and a fine of the greater of $500,000 or double the fraud amount. Sentencing for the defendants is now set for October 21, 2008. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
SOURCE: NPI Center
Sugar Free Red Bull May Increase Heart Attack Risk
August 25, 2008
If there’s one thing Scott Welch loves it’s sugar-free Red Bull! This marketing marvel was created in the 1980s by Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz based on a similar Thai energy drink. Red Bull is banned in Norway, Uruguay and Denmark because of health risks listed on its cans, but the company last year sold 3.5 billion cans in 143 countries. One can contains 80 mg of caffeine, around the same as a normal cup of brewed coffee. But according to Australian medical researchers, just one can of the Sugar-Free Red Bull can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
“One hour after they drank Red Bull, (their blood systems) were no longer normal. They were abnormal like we would expect in a patient with cardiovascular disease,” Scott Willoughby, lead researcher from the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, told the Australian newspaper.
Red Bull Australia spokeswoman Linda Rychter said the report would be assessed by the company’s head office in Austria.
“The study does not show effects which would go beyond that of drinking a cup of coffee. Therefore, the reported results were to be expected and lie within the normal physiological range,” Rychter told Reuters.
Method
Researcher tested the cardiovascular systems of 30 young adults one hour before and one hour after consuming one 250 ml can of sugar-free Red Bull. The results showed “normal people develop symptoms normally associated with cardiovascular disease” after consuming the drink. But Scott Willoughby said Sugar-Free Red Bull could be deadly when combined with stress or high blood pressure, impairing proper blood vessel function and possibly lifting the risk of blood clotting. “If you have any predisposition to cardiovascular disease, I’d think twice about drinking it,” he said.
SOURCE: Reuters
Glanbia Buys Optimum Nutrition For $315 Million
August 25, 2008
By Scott Welch
One of the biggest stories the supplement genius has seen in 2008 is the acquisition of Optimum Nutrition by one of the largest whey-protein manufacturers in the world. The company that has bought Optimum is called “Glanbia” which is headquartered in Ireland but has divisions around the world including Canada, U.S., Europe, U.K. and Nigeria to name a few. Glanbia employs 4.900 people and just last year their revenues totaled $2.2 billion which gives you an indication of just how large they are! Optimum is easily the top-5 largest sports nutrition companies in the U.S. and Canada right now with brands ‘Optimum Nutrition’ , ‘Gold Standard 100% Whey’ and ‘AMERICAN BODY BUILDNG (a.k.a. “ABB”) leading the pack. The total consideration for the acquisition is $315 million dollars.
Optimum Nutrition
Optimum has been in the supplement business for 22 years now and is owned by Mike and Tony Costello. They have 4 state-of-the-art production facilities occupying over 500,000 square feet of operating space and are the only sports nutrition company to manufacture their own supplements in every product category they’re in. For the U.S. market, they also have their own distribution company which ensures that they have strong market presence and also helps them keep their costs low. It is with this combination of manufacturing and distributing their own supplements that Optimum has been able to offer high-quality products at an affordable price. They have three operating facilities located in Illinois, South Carolina and Florida employing 387 people. Last year, they generated $185 million in revenue with and $32 million operating profit.
John Moloney, Glanbia Group Managing Director, said:
“This is an exciting acquisition for Glanbia as it gives us a leading position of scale in a fast growing segment of the nutrition market. It is a close strategic fit with our core areas of expertise in whey and sports nutrition and brings us up the value chain into consumer markets. Optimum also fits very well with the Group’s stated growth strategy and ambition to continue to internationalise our business. The transaction is expected to be earnings enhancing from this year.”
Kevin Toland, CEO and President of Glanbia USA, said:
“Optimum is a strong business with an excellent track record and reputation in the sports nutrition market, particularly in the USA. The company has strong brands and a broad distribution network in an attractive market segment. We have a long standing relationship with Optimum and its leadership team and are delighted to welcome them to the Group. We look forward to growing and developing this business together into the future.”
Full Press Release click HERE.