Forever Living

April 14

The FTC and Forever Living reach a settlement agreement and proposed order that permanently prohibits the company, as well as its CEO and president, from making deceptive earnings claims.

April 13

The FTC sues Forever Living in Arizona federal court for marketing its business opportunity as a means to earning a substantial income despite the fact that most distributors make nothing or lose money. Of note, the FTC’s complaint references TINA.org’s May 2022 complaint to the agency.

April 1

Forever Living updates its policies and procedures on its website to state that, effective May 1, the company will no longer allow distributors to recruit others into the business opportunity. However, per the update, distributors will still be able to generate earnings from “existing downline purchasing” under the current MLM structure until the end of 2026.

Without providing details, the update cites restrictions including “ongoing monitoring and structural requirements” that it says prevent it from continuing to operate as an MLM. The transition to “a model centered on product sales and long-term compliance” will only affect the company’s U.S. operations. Forever Living, which sells a variety of aloe vera products, operates in more than 160 countries.

November 11

The DSSRC issues a case decision finding that Forever Living uses atypical earnings claims to market its business opportunity.

February 14

As part of its 2023 investigation into 100 MLM companies, TINA.org notifies Forever Living of its ongoing findings that the company has used atypical income claims to market its business opportunity.

October

The FTC serves Forever Living with a Civil Investigative Demand seeking documents and information pertaining to, among other things, its use of earnings claims and the possibility that those claims were deceptive.

May 4

TINA.org files complaint with the FTC (and sends a copy to the company) after identifying more than 5,000 deceptive income claims used by the company and its high-level executives to promote the business opportunity, as well as undisclosed influencer posts to promote products.

October 26

The FTC sends Forever Living a Notice of Penalty Offenses Concerning Money-Making Opportunities, as well as a Notice Concerning Endorsements and Testimonials.

June 30

TINA.org sends a letter to the FTC (and a copy to Forever Living, among others) regarding the need for a penalty offense program to address deception within the direct selling industry.

December 18

TINA.org sends a letter to Forever Living (as part of TINA.org’s 2017 investigation into all DSA-member companies) informing it of TINA.org’s findings that the company is making false and unsubstantiated income claims to promote the business opportunity.

November 11

TINA.org sends a letter to Forever Living (as part of its 2016 investigation into all DSA-member companies selling nutritional supplements) informing it of TINA.org’s findings that the company is making inappropriate health claims to market its products.