a warning letter from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).

In November, USPlabs recalled several of its products at the urging of the FDA.  Read more.

Turns out the CEO of USPlabs, Jacob Geissler, who also serves on the board of the American Herbal Products Association, has had some trouble with the law.  According to an article in USA Today, Geissler was indicted on a controlled substance charge involving possessing thousands of pills containing anabolic steroids in 2003.    He was sentenced to 10 years’ community service in 2004, but was granted an early termination in 2009.  The terms of his deal allowed his conviction to be set aside after completing community service.

Interestingly enough, USPlabs is not the only maker of a questionable supplement whose top official has a shady background.  Driven Sports Vice President Matt Cahill is a convicted felon.  Driven Sports’ pre-workout power, Craze, was found earlier this year to contain a methamphetamine-like compound.

“It strikes me as odd,” notes Virginia product safety lawyer Doug Landau, “that lawyers can be disbarred from the practice of law, doctors can be stripped of their license to practice medicine, and even pharmaceutical executives can be prohibited from working in their industry, yet sellers of dietary supplements cannot?  Because dietary supplements are treated more like food than drugs, the companies that produce them are not subject to the same kinds of oversight.  It seems as if a supplement company can be started and run by anyone, no matter his or her history.”

That is just one of the many reasons Landau always advises friends, family, colleagues and clients to stay away from dietary supplements.

If you or someone you know has been injured or sickened after taking dietary supplements and there are questions as to what laws apply, email or call Abrams Landau, Ltd. at once (703-796-9555).