SAN DIEGO/EWORLDWIRE/June 9, 2008 --- The Fraud Discovery Institute Inc. (FDI) used two FDA registered, independent labs to perform lead level tests on six Herbalife products reported in several published peer review medical journals about numerous cases of liver toxicity associated with the use of Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) products. These test results showed levels of lead in products that, if taken as directed, expose ingestors to levels of lead that violate Prop 65. Herbalife's initial response of May 19 to these tests was not that the test results were wrong, as the company now seems to be suggesting, but that Prop 65 was really "no big deal."
Government agencies charged with protecting the public disagreed with Herbalife's "no big deal" attitude as evidenced by Herbalife's recent and abrupt admission of the countries of Singapore, Poland and Hong Kong and - even the State of California - inquiring about these FDI-reported lead levels.
According to FDI Co-founder Barry Minkow, "Having lost the it's 'no big deal defense,' Herbalife set out to show and prove that the products, made by others, don't violate Prop 65. However, if Prop 65 is the 'no big deal' that Herbalife initially announced on May 19, why the tests of June 8 to show compliance? Easy - Herbalife lied about Prop 65 being no big deal and got caught.
"Back pedaling, Herbalife has tests done, claims that these tests show no violation of Prop 65 and expects people to believe the company after it was already caught misrepresenting the significance of Prop 65."
Less than nine days ago, FDI used a public company, independent FDA registered lab to test an Herbalife children's nutrition drink for lead levels. The results were posted on the FDI Web site on June 2, 2008 ('http://www.frauddiscovery.net/herbalife3/Herbalife_kids_complete.pdf') which showed a .722 micrograms per serving of lead content - 44.40 percent over the amount allowed under Prop 65 and without a warning label. The original release also provided multiple Herbalife distributor Web sites that state the product should be taken twice daily by children, which compounds the lead intake violation.
Percent Max Percent
Lead Serving Serving Daily
Date Lead Per Serving Exceeds Per Lead Exceeds
Product Tested Allowed * or Tablet Allowed Day** Per Day AllowedHerbalife Kids Vanilla Shake Mix 5/27/08 0.5mcg 0.722mcg 0.444 2 1.444 1.888
Tang Kuei Plus 5/13/08 0.5mcg 0.363mcg -0.274 3 1.089 1.178
Herbalife Thermojectics 5/13/08 0.5mcg 0.663mcg 0.326 4 2.652 4.304
Shapeworks Cell Activator 5/13/08 0.5mcg 0.294mcg -0.412 9 2.646 4.292
Herbalife Multivitamin Complex 5/13/08 0.5mcg 0.344mcg -0.312 3 1.032 1.064
Herbalife Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake 5/13/08 0.5mcg 2.12mcg 3.24 2 4.24 7.48
Herbalife Shapeworks Protein Drink Mix 5/13/08 0.5mcg 3.05mcg 5.1 2 6.1 11.2
* - Under California's Proposition 65
** - Based on recommended daily consumption per product label
To learn more, contact Barry Minkow at 888-300-8307.
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