New Jersey Sues TrimSpa Maker

NEWARK, N.J.--New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos announced in mid- October that the state was suing Goen Technologies, makers of ephedra-based TrimSpa, for using seminars and advertisements to sell dietary supplements without regard for consumer health.

The states six-count complaint alleges Alex Szynalski, founder of Goen Seminars Institute Inc., carried out a bait-and-switch advertising scheme that promoted the use of hypnosis at Goen seminars as a foolproof way to lose weight or to stop smoking. Advertisements claimed that for the $59.99 cost of the seminars, participants could lose as much as 120 pounds a year, or stop smoking.

The complaint against Szynalski alleges that to boost sales of Goen supplements, he and other defendants misinformed consumers about their effectiveness, making claims that had no scientific basis. In addition, Harvey alleges the defendants advertisements failed to warn consumers of the dangers of taking the ephedra-based TrimSpa and also failed to provide adequate notice that they should consult a physician before taking the product.

The seminars were just a veiled attempt to sell Goen supplements, Harvey said. Whats even more troubling is that the defendants hawked these supplements without clearly warning consumers about the potentially life-threatening side effects of products containing ephedra, such as TrimSpa.

The complaint also names as defendants Goen Technologies, Nutramerica, Goen Institute and Albert Fleischner, Ph.D., who has been described as the chief science officer of the Goen Group and chief operating officer of TrimSpa Corporation.