MJPilot
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2001
- Posts
- 85
Critics of Monavie include physician Andrew Weil and nutritionist Jonny Bowden, who claim that evidence of Monavie’s nutritional and health benefits is lacking and that the product is exorbitantly priced relative to more cost-effective conventional antioxidant-rich foods, such as blueberries.[4][5]
Bowden, Newsweek correspondent Tony Dokoupil,[6] and Palm Beach Post reporter Carolyn Susman [7] commented on the use of misleading promotional testimonials by Monavie distributors in which the product was said to prevent and treat a variety of medical conditions. Dokoupil noted that “the FDA warned MonaVie about medicinal claims on its Web site” in reference to the Food and Drug Administration's action against Monavie distributor Kevin Vokes in July 2007. According to the FDA's warning notice, Vokes had promoted Monavie as a drug in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1)] by claiming that it was effective for treating inflammation, high cholesterol, and muscle and joint pain.[8] In a 2008 article in Forbes magazine, reporters Emily Lambert and Klaus Kneale described Monavie as a pyramid scheme and noted that a Monavie video testimonial by distributor Louis “Lou” B. Niles implied that the product could cure cancer.[9]
Monavie CEO and founder Dallin Larson was previously a senior executive with an MLM company that sold a similar juice product prior to being shut down by the FDA for illegal business practices. According to Newsweek correspondent Dokupil, Larson, who was “a 20-year-veteran of the multi-level marketing industry", "left a senior post at another juice company in 2002, a year before the FDA destroyed the company's ‘bogus products’ that were being falsely promoted to treat ‘cancer, arthritis and attention deficit disorder’." The company in question, Dynamic Essentials, distributed an MLM juice product known as Royal Tongan Limu juice.
On March 18, 2008, Quixtar North America, an Amway sister company, filed a multi-count federal court complaint against the MonaVie company and several of its distributors for unfair competition.[10] The complaint alleged that Monavie competed unfairly by making false claims about its products.[11] On May 16, 2008, MonaVie was sued by Imagenetix, Inc. for $2.75 billion over trademark infringement concerning the ingredient Celadrin.[10] The lawsuit was dropped on May 20, 2008.
Bowden, Newsweek correspondent Tony Dokoupil,[6] and Palm Beach Post reporter Carolyn Susman [7] commented on the use of misleading promotional testimonials by Monavie distributors in which the product was said to prevent and treat a variety of medical conditions. Dokoupil noted that “the FDA warned MonaVie about medicinal claims on its Web site” in reference to the Food and Drug Administration's action against Monavie distributor Kevin Vokes in July 2007. According to the FDA's warning notice, Vokes had promoted Monavie as a drug in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1)] by claiming that it was effective for treating inflammation, high cholesterol, and muscle and joint pain.[8] In a 2008 article in Forbes magazine, reporters Emily Lambert and Klaus Kneale described Monavie as a pyramid scheme and noted that a Monavie video testimonial by distributor Louis “Lou” B. Niles implied that the product could cure cancer.[9]
Monavie CEO and founder Dallin Larson was previously a senior executive with an MLM company that sold a similar juice product prior to being shut down by the FDA for illegal business practices. According to Newsweek correspondent Dokupil, Larson, who was “a 20-year-veteran of the multi-level marketing industry", "left a senior post at another juice company in 2002, a year before the FDA destroyed the company's ‘bogus products’ that were being falsely promoted to treat ‘cancer, arthritis and attention deficit disorder’." The company in question, Dynamic Essentials, distributed an MLM juice product known as Royal Tongan Limu juice.
On March 18, 2008, Quixtar North America, an Amway sister company, filed a multi-count federal court complaint against the MonaVie company and several of its distributors for unfair competition.[10] The complaint alleged that Monavie competed unfairly by making false claims about its products.[11] On May 16, 2008, MonaVie was sued by Imagenetix, Inc. for $2.75 billion over trademark infringement concerning the ingredient Celadrin.[10] The lawsuit was dropped on May 20, 2008.
