FTC Approves Administrative Complaint Against Supplement Marketer Health Research Laboratories, LLC

The Federal Trade Commission has approved a Part 3 administrative complaint against dietary supplement marketer Health Research Laboratories, LLC (HRL), its owner and officer Kramer Duhon, and Whole Body Supplements, LLC (WBS) for making unsubstantiated claims that their supplements—The Ultimate Heart Formula (UHF), BG18, and Black Garlic Botanicals—prevent or treat cardiovascular and other diseases, and that their supplement Neupathic cures, mitigates, or treats diabetic neuropathy.

In December 2019, FTC staff and the State of Maine filed a contempt motion against HRL, Duhon, and WBS in federal district court for violating a January 2018 stipulated final order. According to the contempt motion, after agreeing to the 2018 order prohibiting unsubstantiated health claims, the defendants violated its terms by making unsubstantiated claims about UHF, BG18, Black Garlic Botanicals, and Neupathic.

Earlier this year, a court issued an order denying the FTC’s contempt motion. Staff then discontinued further contempt proceedings, and the FTC issued the administrative complaint announced today. The complaint is scheduled to be heard before an administrative law judge in July 2021. The Commission vote authorizing the administrative complaint was 5-0.

NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The issuance of the administrative complaint marks the beginning of a proceeding in which the allegations will be tried in a formal hearing before an administrative law judge.