Herbalife: Dangerous Products and Deceptive Marketing Practices

Editor’s Note: We originally published this content on December 14th, 2021. We take pride in providing our readers with reliable and trustworthy information. So, when necessary, update previously published pieces to guarantee their continued relevance and reliability. As such, we’ve updated this article for accuracy and clarity.

You know what they say: if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Such is the case with Herbalife. Sure, they paint the picture of a healthy and natural weight loss supplement, but the reality is far from it. In fact, there have been cases where people have gotten sick from their contaminated products, and some even suffered from liver damage.

And let's not forget Herbalife operates under a shady MLM business model, using all kinds of deceptive tactics to hook people in - from misleading labeling to false promises. 

If you have ever considered taking Herbalife supplements, there are a few things you should know:

A brief history of Herbalife

Herbalife is a leader in the sketchy world of the multi-level marketing (MLM) industry. Herbalife sells weight-loss drink mixes, soy protein powders, protein bars, energy supplements, drink mixes containing vitamins and minerals, and personal care goods. 

They sell through consultants they call Herbalife Independent Distributors (HIDs). These HIDs are not employees of the Herbalife company but rather independent contract workers who have an opportunity to earn money by selling Herbalife products and recruiting more people into their network.

Let's talk about Herbalife's shady business practices. They're not exactly forthcoming about what they're up to behind closed doors. And they've been accused of doing some pretty illegal things. 

In 2016, Herbalife got busted for being a pyramid scheme that lied to people about making money selling their so-called healthy shakes and other products. Herbalife had to pay $200 million to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)  to settle the lawsuit. 

And that's not all. Herbalife has also been criticized for its lack of research and transparency about the ingredients in its products.

Despite their attempts to conceal it, Herbalife products are linked to a hot mess of negative side effects. We're talking liver damage, jaundice, nausea, fatigue, pale stools, and nasty stomach pains.

As if that wasn't all horrific enough, there's more to this story. Believe it or not, using Herbalife has been linked to some cases of death.

The dangerous products they sell

There is no question that with health risks like that, Herbalife products have become the subject of some controversy. While you have nutrition and health experts raising concerns about these products' safety, Herbalife insists their products are safe.

Herbalife’s flagship product: Formula 1 Meal Replacement

Adding to the confusion are countless online reviews singing the praises of Herbalife. But take these with a grain of salt - many reviews are likely from independent contractors looking to earn commissions by selling these products. 

So, are the potential health benefits of Herbalife worth the risks? It's up to you to decide - but be sure to put your critical thinking cap on and make an informed decision before jumping on the bandwagon.

Herbalife's golden child, Formula 1, is marketed as a top-notch meal replacement shake. But don't let the fancy packaging and persuasive pitches fool you - there's nothing nourishing about it. Consumers are encouraged to replace meals with a scoop of this supplement mixed into skim milk to lose weight.

A serving of Formula 1 mixed in skim milk is nothing more than a measly 170 calories with 17 grams of protein, 23 grams of carbs (5g of added sugar), and a paltry 1 gram of fat. 

Advocating for meal replacements isn't exactly sitting well with us, and we're skeptical of their claims regarding the shake's quality. Call us unimpressed.

They're calling that a meal, and I'm calling it a recipe for disaster. Let's be real here. All that will do is leave you feeling more hungry, trigger compensatory eating habits, contribute to disordered eating patterns, and eventually lead to long-term weight gain. Don't be fooled into thinking that's a sustainable diet choice.

The nutritional formula of Formula 1 mixed with skim milk is nearly identical to a Slim Fast shake. Do you know anyone who maintained their weight loss using Slim Fast? Probably not, because meal replacement shakes are a faulty dieting gimmick used by almond moms in the 90s.

Diet culture taught us that meal replacement shakes are a healthy way to lose weight. While replacing a meal with this shake will reduce your calories for that meal, and theoretically, could put you into the caloric deficit you need to initially lose weight, research has shown that they are not an effective long-term healthy weight-loss solution.

Replacing meals with meal-replacement shakes can lead to weight gain in the long run.

When you replace a meal with a shake, you'll likely be hungry later on and end up overeating. This is because shake formulas are often low in protein and fiber and high in sugar.

When you're constantly hungry, sticking to a healthy diet and progressing towards your weight loss goals is difficult.

To add fuel to the fire, swapping meals for Herbalife shakes can throw off your body's natural hunger and fullness cues. This disruption can pave the way for disordered eating patterns and a negative relationship with food.

Don't be fooled by the promises of quick and easy weight loss - there's no magic potion that will work for everyone. But that doesn't mean you can ignore the basics of nutrition.

Before you trade in your meals for Herbalife shakes, be aware of the potential risks of this dieting gimmick. No one wants to be in a cycle of yo-yo dieting.

Herbalife case studies of liver damage

Not only does Herbalife fail to deliver on its weight loss promises, but they have also been associated with some pretty nasty health issues. For example, in the past few years, Herbalife products have been correlated with a number of liver problems.

Some of Herbalife’s nutrition products.

One study identified the bacteria, B. subtilis, to be found in Herbalife products and linked it to liver injury, including the cirrhosis of the liver in one patient.

This is not the first time Herbalife has been accused of creating dangerous products with a high potential for injury and no evidence of efficacy. 

According to recent research, one in five people who consume various herbal products and dietary supplements suffer liver injury. This study included 200 individuals, including those who bought Herbalife products.

Herbalife's response to these dangerous findings is to attempt to silence its critics.

Elsevier, a prominent scientific journal, was coerced to retract an article critical of Herbalife's liver damage after the company repeatedly threatened legal action. The article, written by two professors at UCLA and UC San Diego, linked Herbalife's nutritional supplements to the death of a 31-year-old woman.

One of the researchers on this study, Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, has spoken out against the retraction of his article. The case report, dubbed "Slimming to the death: Herbalife®-associated fatal acute liver failure -heavy metals, toxic compounds, bacterial contaminants and psychotropic agents in products sold in India," is not the first time researchers have linked Herbalife shakes to liver damage. They've done it here, here, here, and here among others.

Read the full interview about Herbalife getting this study retracted on Examine.com

An evidence-based approach to weight loss includes looking at the potential risks. Because of the potential for serious harm associated with Herbalife products and other meal replacement shakes, it is best to avoid them altogether. There are safer alternatives that do not come with the risk of serious side effects or other negative health consequences.

Herbalife's products are dangerous, and their multi-level marketing practices are highly deceptive. Stay away from their flashy promises of wealth and quick weight loss- this former-pyramid scheme is not worth the risk.

How they mislead consumers

As an MLM, Herbalife is a predatory company that preys on people's insecurities and lack of knowledge about nutrition, weight management, and loss. The thing about MLM companies is that by design, they benefit the few at the top, not those who are actually using their products.

Herbalife's MLM approach relies on creating an illusion of success for its distributors. They use flashy marketing tactics, high-pressure sales tactics, and even fake testimonials (which are technically illegal) to convince people of their products' efficacy.

Herbalife's distributors (who sometimes refer to themselves as “coaches”) use deceptive tactics such as making false health claims or exaggerating the results of their products. This is to mislead consumers and get them to buy more products.

The so-called "success stories" that Herbalife promotes on its website are usually Herbalife Distributors engaging in extreme and disordered dieting practices.

The reality is that the vast majority of their distributors never make a dime–only a few at the top reap the rewards.

Before 2017, Herbalife annually published its reports on average gross compensation. Like many other MLMs, Herbalife shared only partial information that was deceptive. Even though the data was imperfect, it still painted a bleak picture. The numbers were clear - most distributors made very little money.

Following the settlement of the FTC case against them, Herbalife said they would be implementing more honest earning claims. However, being honest doesn't mean the same thing as being transparent.

Herbalife's recent earnings disclosures have become more vague, making it even more difficult to determine the average earnings of a Herbalife distributor.

According to their 2022 income disclosure, "In 2021, about 178,000 U.S. Distributors ordered products for resale from Herbalife Nutrition, and about 166,000 of them earned money from their sales and the sales of those they sponsored. In a typical month, about 85,000 earned money, including those making supplemental income."

Do you hear that sound? It's the sound of Herbalife sidestepping 93,000 of their distributors who made no money, just to make their numbers look better. It's a bit sneaky, don't you think?

But let's take a closer look. Only 14% of the 85,000 distributors Herbalife wants us to focus on earned over $190 in a month. Not terrible, but here's the kicker - that's only 7% of the total 178,000 distributors who exist. Are you starting to see the picture?

Keep in mind that these figures are gross earnings- not profits. They do not account for the cost of Herbalife products that distributors must purchase to maintain their business or any other expenses associated with participating in the MLM.

This is another layer of deception that Herbalife uses to make their numbers look better than they are and why multilevel marketing companies continue to be classified as debt-inducing schemes.

When you factor in the cost of product purchases and other associated expenses, it's safe to say that the majority of Herbalife distributors are not only not making money, but they’re likely losing money.

Herbalife Nutrition Clubs

The newest and scariest way Herbalife has begun to defraud consumers is by opening up "Nutrition Clubs," which they call the public gathering spaces for their cult-like diet club meetings.

These physical storefronts have been popping up nationwide, appearing as smoothie shops or cafes. In reality, independent distributors run these clubs where they serve supplement-laden shakes, snacks, protein coffees, and "loaded teas" to the public to recruit more people into the multilevel marketing scheme.

Distributors may tout their small business status and individual licenses, but let's face it – they still answer to Herbalife corporate. And that means complying with a set of rules and regulations from the top down. Don't be fooled by the guise of independence – there's a bigger force at play here.

According to the online rule book from the Herbalife website, nutrition clubs are not franchises, restaurants, food service firms, or retail outlets. However, many individuals in the county list themselves as smoothie and juice bars on Facebook. You can find them listed as restaurants, health shops, or vitamin and supplement stores on Google.

Clubs are not allowed to post prices since they would be considered food service. Instead of charging for food, owners charge a “membership fee,” which often includes two drinks.

Clubs are prohibited from having open or closed signs visible from the outside, but many do. Herbalife also claims that owners should cover club windows so interiors and goods are not visible from the exterior.

Despite Herbalife's statement that clubs are not retail outlets, distributors may still be selling Herbalife products.

Because they aren't allowed to advertise on television or radio, they rely on social media marketing to promote their locations. They advertise their businesses with colorful beverages, toppings and drizzles, and transparent cups with their own logos. Herbalife branding is not allowed.

Finally these Nutrition Clubs are not legally establishing themselves as restaurants. Therefore, they are often not required to follow food safety or public health regulations while serving their products. As a result, there have been some frightening reports of foodborne illness, food contamination, and unsanitary conditions.

Nutrition Clubs can be a real danger zone. They offer Herbalife supplement-laden drinks that could put your health at risk without you even realizing it. And the worst part is these clubs rarely inform customers of the contents of their drinks.

Beyond the risk of liver damage, there are countless other health concerns associated with consuming Herbalife supplements without knowing their ingredients.

Imagine ingesting an ingredient that clashes with a medication you're taking. It's a scary thought, right?  It's time to be informed and stay safe.

Conclusion

Herbalife is a multilevel marketing company that many have found to be dubious at best. Not only have their products been known to contain contaminants, making people sick, but they have suffered from lawsuits regarding false labeling and deceptive marketing tactics - and have little to show in the way of learning from them.

You can't trust what Herbalife is selling, so when it comes to your health, do your homework. Avoid MLMs, especially their diet products and programs, for the sake of your health and integrity – if nothing else.

Do your due diligence before consuming any product – not just the ones discussed here. Read all labels carefully, ask questions, and take back control of what you put into your body! Remember: knowledge is power - so arm yourself appropriately!

Are you tired of MLM scams and fad diets that don't deliver on their promises? It's time for a healthier, more informed approach to nutrition! 

Enroll in Navigating Nutrition today and learn to make mindful meal plans and practice compassionate, healthy choices that leave you feeling good about food. 

Ditch the deception and embrace true wellness! Enroll today!

• References

  Herbalife will restructure its multi-level marketing operations and pay $200 million for consumer redress to settle FTC charges. (2016, July 15). Federal Trade Commission. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2016/07/herbalife-will-restructure-its-multi-level-marketing-operations

  Formula 1 healthy meal nutritional shake mix: Dutch chocolate 780g. Herbalife Nutrition US. https://www.herbalife.com/products/formula-1-healthy-meal-nutritional-shake-mix-dutch-chocolate-780g/

  Stickel, F., Droz, S., Patsenker, E., Bögli-Stuber, K., Aebi, B., & Leib, S. L. (2009). Severe hepatotoxicity following ingestion of Herbalife nutritional supplements contaminated with Bacillus subtilis - PubMed. Journal of Hepatology, 50(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2008.08.017

  Navarro, V. J., Khan, I., Björnsson, E., Seeff, L. B., Serrano, J., & Hoofnagle, J. H. (n.d.). Liver injury from herbal and dietary supplements. Hepatology, 65(1), 363–373. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.28813

  Philips, C. A., Augustine, P., Rajesh, S., John, S. K., Valiathan, G. C., Mathew, J., Phalke, S., & Antony, K. L. (2019). Slimming to the death: Herbalife®-Associated fatal acute liver failure-heavy metals, toxic compounds, bacterial contaminants and psychotropic agents in products sold in India - PubMed. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jceh.2018.08.002

  Association between consumption of Herbalife® nutritional supplements and acute hepatotoxicity. (n.d.). Journal of Hepatology. Retrieved December 13, 2021, from https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278(07)00367-4/fulltext

  Chen, G. C., Ramanathan, V. S., Law, D., Funchain, P., Chen, G. C., French, S., Shlopov, B., Eysselein, V., Chung, D., Reicher, S., & Pham, B. V. (2010). Acute liver injury induced by weight-loss herbal supplements. World Journal of Hepatology, 2(11), 410–415. https://doi.org/10.4254/wjh.v2.i11.410

  Schoepfer, A. M., Engel, A., Fattinger, K., Marbet, U. A., Criblez, D., Reichen, J., Zimmermann, A., & Oneta, C. M. (2007). Herbal does not mean innocuous: Ten cases of severe hepatotoxicity associated with dietary supplements from Herbalife products - PubMed. Journal of Hepatology, 47(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2007.06.014

  Herbalife. (2018, April 11). NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548447/

  Average Gross Compensation. (2022, August). Herbalife. https://iamherbalifenutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Herbalife-SAGC-US-English.pdf