Class Action Filed Against FreeLife International
A class-action suit has been filed in Arizona accusing FreeLife International, Inc., two of its officers, and marketing spokesperson Earl Mindell of misrepresenting the value and health benefits of Himalayan Goji Juice, GoChi, and TAIslim. FreeLife International is a Connecticut corporation which for several years has been allegedly falsely claiming that goji products are effective against cancer and many other diseases and that TAIslim causes people to absorb fewer calories from the foods they eat.
In January 2007, the Canadian Broadcasting Company (“CBC”) aired a program that investigated Mindell's goji-related claims and his credentials. In one segment Mindell claims that a study at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center had found that lycium barbarum (a botanical name for goji) had inhibited the growth of human cancer cells. A CBC reporter checked, however, and found that no such study had been done at Sloan-Kettering and the researcher who actually did the study said it was done in cell culture and its results should not be extrapolated to humans. When closely questioned about his claims and credentials, Mindell lost his temper and terminated the interview.
In September 2007, David Lucas Burge published the breathe.org web site to expose many of FreeLife's alleged misrepresentations. Moreover, Sloan-Kettering officials have been sufficiently concerned about FreeLife’s research misrepresentation that their web site contains a bold-faced statement that, "Despite claims by several marketers, the efficacy and safety of lycium products for cancer treatment in humans have not been established."
If you purchased any products from FreeLife International, including Himalayan Goji Juice, GoChi or TAIslim, please contact us to discuss your legal options.