Los Angeles, CA: A consumer fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Vitamin Shoppe Inc, who make and market a pre-workout muscle building and performance enhancing product called True Athlete Training Formula.
The lawsuit, entitled Steven Hodges v. Vitamin Shoppe Inc., Case No. 13-cv-02849, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, contends that the Vitamin Shoppe "knowingly and/or recklessly ignored" all relevant scientific evidence which shows that L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate, the main ingredient in True Athlete Training Formula, does not enhance athletic performance, build muscle, or improve cardiovascular function, as advertised.
The lawsuit also contends that the defendant "knowingly under doses the remaining active ingredients to save money but still entice consumers by using efficacy claims for the compounds Creatine Monohydrate, Beta-Alanine (as Carnosyn), and AstraGin", compounds well known within the sports industry, according to the lawsuit. Specifically, the lawsuit states: "Defendant unapologetically, and with no remorse, boasts the inclusion of these popular ingredients in the Product, and then under doses them in the formula to make the Product useless."And: "The inclusion of the ingredients at levels under the clinical dosage is nothing more than a new tactic at selling consumers 'snake oil.'"
The consumer fraud class action is seeking compensatory, consequential and special damages; punitive damages; injunctive relief and more for alleged false advertising, breach of express warranty, unjust enrichment and other violations of California law on behalf of a proposed class of all California residents who purchased True Athlete Training Formula from the Vitamin Shoppe within the last four years.
