NFL Player Sues Nikki Haskell, GNC, Great Earth, Vitamin Shoppe and others!
November 18, 2008
Nikki Haskell, GNC, Great Earth, and Vitamin Shoppe and others are being sued by NFL defensive tackle Grady Jackson (pictured on the left eating the big ass hamburger!) Gravy, I mean “Grady” supposedly took the diet pill StarCaps which he thought was merely a Papaya and Garlic Extract used for weight loss. Jackson claims that the Star Caps pills actually contained Bumetanide, a powerful diuretic available only by prescription. Bumetanide is used for the treatment of water retention but is also used by many athletes to beat drug tests. Bumetanide is also on the NFL’s list of banned substances list. Jackson is seeking restitution and damages for false advertising and unfair business practices against the company and retailers of StarCaps. Other named defendants include the hot 
cougar on the right known as “Nikki Haskell”, GNC, Great Earth Companies and Vitamin Shoppe.
“Grady has obviously suffered damage to his reputation with the taking of StarCaps,” said attorney Eric Farber, who filed the lawsuit. “As well, Grady has set up a place for consumers to seek restitution.”
On its website, StarCaps acknowledges Jackson’s lawsuit in a message: “We’ve received notice of a problem with an NFL player. We have referred the matter to our counsel and are taking all necessary steps to ensure that our customers receive a product that is safe and effective. We have temporarily suspended shipping of StarCaps pending the results of our investigation. Thank You.”
To read about other NFL players that supposedly used StarCaps and failed drug tests, click HERE.
SOURCE: AJC.com
False Advertising Regulator Challenges Supplement Company … and Gets Punk’d
November 10, 2008
SLIMShots are a liquid appetite suppressant supplement available all across America. Each “shot” contains an ingredient mix they call “Fabuless” which is a fat emulsion made from palm oil and oat. Fabuless has been tested in 4 clinical studies thus far! That’s more than I can say for most supplements out there. Unfortunately, the folks behind SIMShots had their product claims challenged by The National Advertising Review Council (NARC).
Who Is The NARC?
From what I’m told, NARC is a non-profit legal organization that acts on behalf of the government (FTC) to regulate the advertising claims made by companies. Kinda like the Meter Maids that monitor parking meters so that cops don’t have to. Hey guys, I’m just kidding! NARC plays a very important role because the feds that regulate false advertising are very understaffed so this agency is a great help to them. Recently the “SLIM Shots” had their claims challenged by a division of NARC.
SLIMShot Claims Being Challenged:
“SLIMShots Liquid Appetite Controller”
“Eat up to 30% less every day without feeling hungry”
“Now there’s SLIMShots, the coffee creamer-sized shot that can help you eat up to 30% less without feeling hungry.”
“SLIMShots works by triggering your body’s natural appetite suppression mechanism … so you feel full.”
“Unlike other diet products, the all-natural active ingredients in SLIMShots won’t cause jitters or embarrassing side effects.”
“Works from the first day.”
“Demonstrated to work in 4 published clinical studies.”
NARC Gets PUNK’D
Yes, the results of the 4 clinical studies behind SLIMShots came in handy and supported the various claims being made. With the exception of using the language “every day,” since there was an absence of evidence establishing that the same results could be achieved over time.
How To Avoid Getting Ripped Off
If you’d like to find out if a particular supplement company was unable to substantiate their claims when challenged, check the NARC Reports by clicking HERE.
SOURCE: Natural Products Insider
Do Your Supplements Contain Banned Substances?
November 5, 2008
Well they just might be! A recent study showed that the tainted supplement excuse is no myth. In this study, 25 percent of supplements purchased from popular retail outlets and Internet sites showed the presence of steroid contamination! This study was done by Informed-Choice, which is a non-profit partnership between supplement companies and an anti-doping lab. Look for the Informed Choice seal of approval on your supplements or email the supplement company and ask them for a lab test that proves their products are free of banned substances.
StarCaps Cause Failed Drug Tests?
October 28, 2008
A diet pill you may not be familiar with but sells like crazy is called “StarCaps ” and it’s billed as the diet supplement for the stars. Owned by Hollywood star Nikki Haskell the supplement can be purchased via the Internet or many of the health-food stores in the U.S., and the capsules are sold in bottles in quantities of 30 for about $100. Last year, I saw the product sold for $200 at one large retail chain!
According to its Web site, StarCaps is “an all natural supplement ,” which has “been prepared in Peru, using an exclusive drying process to help preserve the enzyme, activity of papaya, grown in the Peruvian Amazon, and the dietary integrity of fresh garlic, grown in the rich and fertile mountains of Arequipa, Peru. Papaya and Garlic have been
used in their raw forms since the time of the ancient Greeks, Romans and Incas.”
There is no mention of the diuretic Bumetanide (pictured on right), a drug banned by the NFL which Saints players Deuce McAllister, Will Smith and Charles Grant reportedly tested positive for by taking this supplement. In late 2007, a group of scientists at the University of Utah did a study on StarCaps. In its research, the scientists gave a StarCaps capsule to male and female volunteers. Urine samples were then analyzed and Bumetanide was detected in each person! To read more on why various supplements have been linked to failed drug tests, click HERE.
SOURCE: The Times-Picayune
Why Are Supplements Causing Failed Drug Tests?
October 28, 2008
David Cornwell Theory - Some companies are eager to grab a share of that market and do so by spiking muscle-building products with ingredients that will work exceptionally well. “They put tainted products knowingly on the shelves to get the user to come back to that product, ” said David Cornwell, an attorney who represented Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman in his appeal of a nandrolone positive in 2006.
Howard Jacobs Theory - The raw materials, sometimes coming from China, may be contaminated with steroids or pro-hormones to start. Or cross-contamination occurs from other products. Attorney Howard Jacobs has brought a handful of suits against supplement companies on behalf of athletes. He said he found that “most are pretty reluctant to divulgue where they’re getting their raw materials. But a large percentage … come from China.” Editors Note: A program called “Informed Choice” has been developed which tests supplements to ensure that they are free of hormonal contaminants that may result in a positive drug test. Click HERE to read more on it.
Scott Welch Theory - I agree with Howard and David’s explanations but I think there’s also third situation at play. If you look closely, most of the positive drug tests have been for Nandrolone Metabolites. These metabolites have anabolic properties and are produced by taking the steroids Deca-Durabolin, Durabolin, Equipoise, Dynabolon, or Laurabolin. Unfortunately or fortunately (depends how you look at it) there’s a class of supplements called “nandrolone pro-hormones” which convert into Nandrolone Metabolites once they’re processed by your liver. Not all of these “pro-hormones” themselves are on the NFL, IOC, NHL, NBA, NCAA banned lists and many are sold over the counter as dietary supplements in the U.S. However, it’s very important to know that these supplements can raise nandrolone levels high enough to fail a drug test (because the urine test is ultra sensitive) but not high enough to get the performance-enhancing effects some pro athletes need to compete. So in the event that a steroid using athlete is tested and fails, their coaches or the athletes themselves have a list of legal supplements that are nandrolone “pro hormones” which they bring forward in their defense to help get the athlete off the charges. They claim that they “unknowingly” took a steroid! I’m not saying that this is always the case but it does happen.
SOURCE: SignOnSanDiego.com
FDA Fails To Regulate Nutritional Labels
October 27, 2008
Original Story By: David Accomazzo
Companies put nutritional labels on products to help customers make informed choices about their health. However, according to supplement expert David Accomazzo, a recent report points out a lack of federal oversight that means customers have to take companies’ claims at their word without much assurance from the government.
"The FDA has limited assurance that domestic and imported foods comply with food labeling requirements, such as those prohibiting false or misleading labeling…FDA has reported that limited resources and authorities significantly challenge its efforts to carry out food safety responsibilities—challenges that also impact efforts to administer and enforce labeling requirements," the report said. "While the number of domestic food firms has increased, FDA has not increased the number of its inspections in response to this increase."
The report found that, among other things, that in 2007, the FDA inspected just 96 foreign food companies out of the tens of thousands of companies exporting food to the United States. The FDA also supposedly lacks a proper system to track the number of complaints and violations and is still using an old computer system the agency agreed to eliminate in 2004.
ORIGINAL STORY SOURCE: The Natural Foods Merchandiser
APPULOSE Claims Challenged
October 21, 2008
In the U.S when a supplement company makes exaggerated claims, usually two things happen:
- Their product sales increase substantially.
- A competitor lodges a complaint with the ESRP (Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program).
The ESRP is a non-profit organization that volunteers to do the job of regulating various advertising claims so that the FTC doesn’t have to. This is meant to allow the supplement industry to regulate itself rather than have the government do so. This is a great program for the FTC since they’re way too busy with other “more pressing” issues than to bother with the supplement industry. However, the FTC will get involved right away if a fraud is involved such as was seen in the recent Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals case.
NVE Pharmaceuticals Claims Challenged
Well The ESRP served recently hit NVE Pharmaceuticals, markers of the world famous Stacker 2 fat burner and manufacturers of many of the mini energy shots you see floating around on the market. But it was not Stacker 2 or an energy shot that the ESRP was concerned with it was their Appuloss Herbal Dietary Supplement.
Claims being challenged included:
- “Appuloss immediate release granules help burn fat on bellies, hips, thighs, and butts while busting energy.”
“When combined with caffeine these two powerhouse ingredients (Epichasine™ and EGGG) have been reported to enhance fat oxidation, stimulate thermogenisis, influence body weight and body composition via changes in EE(24-hour energy expenditure)” - “Appuloss Diet is a unique proprietary complex of the most pivotal thermogenic agents internationally studied.”
At the outset of the ERSP’s inquiry, a representative of NVE was granted a short extension to allow for written response to the claims at issue but none was received. The ERSP has now referred its inquiry to the FTC.
SOURCE: Natural Products Marketplace
Melamine Found In Protein Powder
October 14, 2008
Well it seems spiking milk products with Melamine isn’t just happening in baby food, it’s also happening in protein powder! Police in China arrested a man named “Zhang Yujun” for producing more than 1.2 million pounds of the protein powder, made of melamine and maltodextrin ! Now THAT is almost enough protein to feed Greg Kovacs for a lifetime! The melamine, which could lead to problems such as kidney stones, was first found in powdered baby milk produced by dairy giant Sanlu Group . The police caught 8 other suspects who bought the powder from Zhang. They included food additive vendors, cattle farm owners and fresh milk purchasers. Police have arrested 36 in total connected to the country’s tainted milk scandal in Hebei, according to Xinhua’s count.
Why Melamine?
The suspects were alleged to have produced, sold or added melamine into fresh milk to deceive the public. Standard food chemical tests such as the Kjeldahl and Dumas tests estimate protein levels by measuring the nitrogen content, so they can be misled by adding nitrogen-rich compounds such as melamine. Of course, if you’ve been reading SupplementGenius.com for the past 5 months, you’ll know that this is not the first time we’ve written about “deceiving protein tests”. Click HERE to read about how some supplement companies "spike" protein bars with other substances to artificially inflate protein content.
SOURCE: ChinaView.cn
Does The FDA Approve Your Supplements?
October 7, 2008
It may surprise you to find out that supplements are NOT approved by the FDA and do not receive agency review for safety (or effectiveness) BEFORE being sold in health-food stores! Their safety is evaluated through adverse-event monitoring only once the product is on the market. If there are no complaints from consumers, it’s business as usual.
Exercise Your Rights
If you take a supplement and you experience any adverse event or negative side effect (make sure it’s related to the supplement and not something you caught off that dirty stripper at the club), call the supplement company up or drop them an email and tell them about your complaint. If they give you the run around, remind them that they legally have to document your adverse event. Responsible supplement companies will gladly answer your call or email, document your complaint, and not give you a hassle.
Click HERE to see what happened to one CEO when he lied about the adverse events that customers complained of.
SOURCE: InjuryBoard.com
Advanced Patch Technologies Pays $110,000 For False Claims
October 1, 2008
Marketers of a weight-loss patch called "Peel Away The Pounds" have agreed to pay $110,539 to settle FTC charges that they violated two consent orders by continuing to make false claims that their product causes substantial weight loss and weight loss in all users. After agreeing to the 2004 consent orders, the marketers continued making the same bogus claims they had made previously, but this time they targeted consumers overseas. Some of their false claims include the “Peel Away the Pounds patch would cause substantial weight loss when applied to the skin."
The defendants are barred from:
- Selling any transdermal weight-loss products.
- Advertising that any product causes substantial weight loss in all users.
- Making unsubstantiated claims for any product, service, or program that purportedly provides health benefits.
- The defendants also are prohibited from assisting others in doing any of these things.
SOURCE: FTC