Die Burger: Aktivis gedagvaar oor aanvullers

Posted 07 October 2015

This article on USN’s defamation suite against the consumer activist, Dr Harris Steinman, was published on the 29th September 2015 in the Afrikaans newspaper, Die Burger. Dr Steinman is defending the action. More than 40 complaints have been laid by consumers with the ASA against claims being made for USN products.

The English translation follows (thank you Google Translate!)

Aktivis gedagvaar oor aanvullers

Die Burger

29 Sep 2015

Elsabé Brits

http://www.netwerk24.com/nuus/2015-09-29-aktivis-gedagvaar-oor-aanvullers

KAAPSTAD. – ’n Bekende verbruikersaktivis is deur die uitvoerende hoof van die voedselaanvullermaatskappy USN vir R2 miljoen gedagvaar.

Albé Geldenhuys van USN beweer dat die uitsprake wat dr. Harris Steinman op sy webtuiste www.camcheck.co.za teen sy produkte gemaak het, ongegrond en lasterlik is.

Dit volg nadat Steinman al sedert Januarie 2013 klagtes by die Gesagsvereniging vir Reklamestandaarde (GRS) ingedien het oor produkte van USN.

Van Januarie 2013 tot Mei vanjaar het die GRS in minstens 30 gevalle téén USN beslis. Dit was om bewerings wat hulle oor die doeltreffendheid van verskeie van hul produkte in advertensies maak te verwyder omdat dit “onder meer misleidend is”. Daar was ook gevalle waar beslissings van die GRS nie uitgevoer is nie.

’n Verskeidenheid van USN se produkte het voor die GRS gedien. Dit sluit in verskeie produkte wat gewigsverlies belowe; een wat rooibloedselle en suurstof ’n hupstoot gee; ’n testosteroon-versterker; ’n middel wat glo help dat selluliet nie vorm nie, en een wat die opname van stysel inhibeer.

Wat die USN-produk Fat Block betref, is na bewering “klinies bewys” dat dit “vetopname ná ete verminder”. Steinman het gekla dat dit nié klinies bewys is nie. Die GRS het teen USN beslis. Daarna het USN net die produk se naam na Fat Binder verander.

Vroeër vanjaar het USN ook in regstappe gedreig dat Steinman sy webtuiste moet sluit, maar hy het toe sy internetverskaffer na die buiteland verskuif, berig die gemeenskapsnuusorganisasie Groundup.

“Daar is geen deeglike bewyse dat die meerderheid van USN se produkte, buiten ’n paar, voordele vir verbruikers inhou soos USN beweer nie, buiten die plasebo-effek,” het Steinman gesê. Hy het gesê al wat hy al jare lank doen, is om die verbruiker te beskerm en hy verdien nie ’n sent daarmee nie.

USN het nog nie behoorlike bewyse gelewer van sy navorsingsmateriaal of produkontwikkeling nie. Daar is geen bewys van doeltreffendheid gelewer nie en Geldenhuys verwar gehaltetoetse, en dalk versteekte verbode middels, met toetse vir doeltreffendheid, het Steinman gesê.

Geldenhuys het vroeër op sy webtuiste gesê USN se middels word deur onafhanklike derde partye getoets en produkte word in Brittanje vir verbode middels getoets. Voedingsinligting en etiketinligting word gemaak soos die wette op daardie oomblik vereis.

Hy meen dat dit ’n persoonlike vendetta is teen aanvullers en “ander maatskappye wat sake doen buite die etiese geneeskundige terrein”.

Geldenhuys het nie op Die Burger se navrae gereageer nie.

Activist sued over supplements

Die Burger

29 Sep 2015

Elsabe Brits

CAPE TOWN. – A well-known consumer activist was summoned by the chief executive of the supplements company USN for R2 million.

Albe Geldenhuys of USN claimed that the statements made by Dr. Harris Steinman on its website www.camcheck.co.za made against its products, unjustified and defamatory.

This follows Steinman since January 2013 complaints to the Authority Advertising Standards (ASA) submitted on products of USN.

From January 2013 to May this year, the ASA in at least 30 cases against USN definitely. It was to remove allegations they make about the effectiveness of several of their products in advertisements as “under more misleading”. There were also cases where rulings of the ASA is not carried out.

A variety of USN products put to the ASA. This includes several products that promise weight loss; one red blood cells and oxygen boost; A testosterone amplifier; a drug that apparently help cellulite not form, and one that inhibits the absorption of starch.

The USN Fat Block product concerned, allegedly “clinically proven” to be “fat intake decreased after lunch.” Steinman had complained that they had not clinically proven. The ASA ruled against USN. Then USN just the product name changed to Fat Binder.

Earlier this year, USN also threatened legal action to Steinman its website should include, but he then his internet provider moved to foreign countries, reported the community news organization Groundup.

“There is no conclusive evidence that the majority of USN products, except a few, benefits to consumers pose as claimed USN, except the placebo effect,” Steinman said. He said all that he did for many years, to protect the consumer and he does not deserve a dime with it.

USN has not provided proper evidence of his research material or product development. There is no evidence of effectiveness provided and Geldenhuys confuse quality tests, and perhaps concealed prohibited substances, with tests for effectiveness, the Steinman said.

Geldenhuys said earlier on its website said USN’s drugs are tested by independent third parties and products can be tested in Britain for banned substances. Nutritional information and label information is made as the laws require at that moment.

He believes that this is a personal vendetta against supplements and “other companies doing business outside the ethical medical grounds”.

Geldenhuys did not respond to Die Burger’s inquiries.