USN sues Critic

[DJR]

Re-posted from MSN - make up your own mind:

 

 

USN sues consumer activist

 

© Daily Maverick

Ultimate Sports Nutrition wants consumer activist Harris Steinman to pay for R2-million for calling its owner, Albe Geldenhuys, a 'scam artist', 'liar', 'quack', 'fraud' and 'snake oil salesman'.

R2-million. That’s how much sport supplement company Ultimate Sports Nutrition (USN) wants consumer activist Harris Steinman to pay for calling its owner, Albe Geldenhuys, a “scam artist”, “liar”, “quack”, “fraud” and “snake oil salesman”.

USN’s lawyers have sent Steinman a summons to the Cape High Court, in which they accuse him of defaming USN and Geldenhuys.

Steinman has been a consumer activist and outspoken advocate against quackery for decades. He regularly lodges complaints - which usually succeed - with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). He runs a popular website called CamCheck which describes itself as a “South African consumers' guide to scams, pseudoscience and voodoo science”.

Geldenhuys, a former winner of the male beauty pageant Manhunt International, started USN in South Africa in 2000. The company has since gone multinational, with offices in the UK, US, Australia and Ireland. The company’s web page says it is “at the forefront of sports nutrition research, making effective sports nutrition supplements”.

Earlier this year, USN lodged an internet takedown notice against Steinman’s website which was hosted in South Africa with Hetzner. So Steinman moved CamCheck to an offshore host.

If you Google “USN Albe Geldenhuys”, the first hit is a CamCheck article titled, Albe Geldenhuys of USN, a master scam artist?.

Steinman says USN has had dozens of complaints lodged against it at the ASA. In most cases USN has withdrawn the advertising claims or the ASA has ruled against it. “There is no robust proof that the majority of USN products, bar a few, are able to benefit consumers as USN claims – above that of a placebo response,” Steinman states on his site.

For most of the disputes between USN and Steinman the truth or falsehood of the claims requires technical explanations beyond the scope of this article. But the company has certainly at one time made false claims about a product.

The USN summons also states that Steinman accuses USN of “intentionally hiding banned substances” in its products. Steinman points out that what he actually wrote was, “Remember how USN contaminated products almost ruined two Springbok careers?” Indeed, USN products were reported to have been the cause of five sportsmen failing drug tests. USN has since recalled those products. Steinman says he has not accused USN of intentionally putting banned substances in its supplements; he has merely pointed out that some of its products did have banned substances.

Steinman is widely respected in medical circles. Roy Jobson, a medical doctor and professor of pharmacology, describes CamCheck as a pioneering public service “where citizens can quickly check up on a large number of products being sold, some of which do not have evidence that they work, and may even in some instances be illegal”. He worries about the consequences of Steinman being silenced by a lawsuit, “This important work should not be hampered by corporations trying to silence his criticism of their particular products.”

Steinman says he became a consumer activist after being “fooled by the claims of a product years ago.” He says that although he has been scientifically trained – Steinman is a medical doctor – this made him realise “if I could be fooled, then I needed to empower myself and use that knowledge to educate and bring to the attention of consumers claims for products that were not proven”.

He says USN’s litigation will not dampen his consumer activism. On the contrary, he says: “Hopefully USN’s actions will put the spotlight on how it, and other companies, conduct business. And if this goes as far as the Constitutional Court, (it might) put pressure on the regulators to do more to protect consumers.”

Steinman says it is ironic that “USN thinks it is acceptable to make any claim that it likes … with no evidence, but that it wants to deny my right to point out the falseness of the claims.” He says USN’s litigation shows how companies “can use their financial muscle to intimidate and try to close down comments of any consumer, scientist or even experts simply for drawing attention to the truth”.

GroundUp gave USN more than a day to answer questions and comment. The company’s public relations agency requested an extension till 12pm on 16 September which was granted. But no response has yet been received. USN's central phone number was also not being answered at the time of publication. 

[Pah Bear]

Three cheers to CamCheck and all strength during this time. 

 

Harris Steinman you have my support. After attending a few lectures of Prof Tim Noakes, I have a very different viewpoint regarding all these so called nutritional products and the "supposed value" they have for sportspeople.

 

Party to the "Eat right and drink water when you thirsty brigade"

['Dale]

Perfect fuel for the Friday Fight Club fire!

 

More seriously, too many doubtful claims and questions about the USN brand. I won't touch it.

 

All the best to Steinman!

[HappyMartin]

I won't go near the stuff. No clue about the character of Geldenhuys.

 

A lot of the products do work. That's the thing. I mean there is no doubt sugar gives you fuel to drive lengthy endurance activities at high intensities. However sugar costs about R13 a kg. No need to pay R200 a kg for the same stuff that comes in a half empty plastic bucket with a random photo of a guys 6 pack on the label.

[jcza]

Half the price of the imported stuff and does the same job.  

[Rocket-Boy]

Not a fan of USN at all, there are many products that work better.

[Ryanpmb]

Have Specialized bought shares in USN?

[Wayne Potgieter]

I quite like the purefit range.

 

I also greatly admire Albe's business model.

 

As for scientific analysis...i am no scientist...cant comment.

[fanievb]

most of the USN products tastes horrible (my opinion) which is the main reason i dont use it.

 

as far the science stuff I'm with Wayne, don't know so no comment.

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

Have Specialized bought shares in USN?

Geez, why drag the old Spaz into the debate

[singletrack]

USN = Useless Sports Nutrition

 

Will not touch the stuff even while wearing a hazmat suit.

[Skubarra]

I don't think they are scammers or snake oil salesmen, but I do get the impression that they don't let science get in the way of a nice marketing slogan...

 

A very brave move to try and silence a consumer activist with a lawsuit imo, could backfire on them even if they win.

[Ed-Zulu]

I won't go near the stuff. No clue about the character of Geldenhuys.

 

A lot of the products do work. That's the thing. I mean there is no doubt sugar gives you fuel to drive lengthy endurance activities at high intensities. However sugar costs about R13 a kg. No need to pay R200 a kg for the same stuff that comes in a half empty plastic bucket with a random photo of a guys 6 pack on the label.

You do have a way to say things the way it should be said  

 

In full agreement 

[Tumbleweed]

Bully tactics. How did USN come up with - or should I say "formulate" - the R2m damages figure? Is that how much business it's lost because of Steinman?  

 

This is actually an interesting sentence, though:

 

“Remember how USN contaminated products almost ruined two Springbok careers?” 

 

Perhaps Albe read "contaminated" as a verb not an adjective...?

[EmptyB]

Racefood...love it but nothing beats "normal" food.

 

Every manufacturer of products claims they are the leaders/at the forefront

[Thor Buttox]

I am 100% certain that these products have effects. Back in the day, someone gave me a sachet of one of their products... Tasted great, swigged it down. 5 mins later I was shivering, and my face was the colour of a beetroot. It works alright... Just not sure what for.