There’s something about USANNA.
Basically a company that specializes in multivitamins and vitamins like Amway’s Nutrilite – but USANNA (like many Multi-levels) always seem to be involved in law suits and stock manipulation problems – not to mention executives lying about their credentials
Here from Wikipedia”
From 2004 to 2006, USANA was named on Forbes “200 Best Small Companies” list. In 2007, USANA was not included on Forbes’ 200 Best Small Companies” list, and an article in the magazine quoted industry and government experts who had raised questions about USANA’s business practices and products. USANA responded by issuing a press release denying that the company had breached a $40 million loan agreement with Bank of America.]
During 2007, USANA faced repeated controversy after several of its executives were discovered to have made false statements regarding their qualifications.[ The executives included Denis Waitley, a member of the board of directors who had falsely claimed to hold a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School; sales associate Ladd McNamara, who quit the company's medical advisory board after it was discovered that his license to practice medicine had been revoked;[15][16][17] the Vice President of Research and Development, Timothy Wood, who was found to have doctorate in forestry, as opposed to biology as he had claimed; and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Gilbert Fuller, who had continued to use the title of CPA, though his CPA license had expired 10 years before he joined USANA in 1996.
In August 2007, USANA announced that it had been notified by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that its shares were subject to delisting from the NASDAQ because the company had failed to have the financial information in its quarterly Form 10-Q reviewed by an independent auditor. USANA reported this was due to their public accountant resigning and not yet being replaced. In October 2007, USANA announced that NASDAQ had determined they were in compliance and their stock would continue to be listed.]
On May 10, 2011, it was announced that 4 of USANA’s executives (President and COO Fred W. Cooper, CFO Jeffrey A. Yates, EVP of Sales Mark H. Wilson, and VP of Finance Riley Timmer) had unexpectedly resigned their positions at the company to pursue an unspecified business opportunity.
USANA states that their products are of high quality, justifying their relatively high cost: but this claim was disputed by Anthony Almada, Chief Scientist of the nutritional supplement industry consulting firm Imaginutrition, who stated in an interview in Forbes that “The economic reality of Usana, mandates that their products invariably lack robust distinctiveness and convincing evidence of consumer relevance and superiority—achievable through rigorous clinical trials only—to their retail counterparts.” These comments were supported by natural health product specialist Prof. Jean-Louis Brazier of the University of Montreal‘s Faculty of Pharmacy who examined USANA’s products for Radio-Canada‘s consumer report show La Facture. Brazier found that they cost two to three times the price of equivalent store-bought items, and no evidence that USANA’s products were of better quality than their competitors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USANA_Health_Sciences
History
USANA was founded by an immunologist and microbiologist Myron Wentz.
USANA, based in West Valley City, Utah, sells its products through multilevel marketing: distributors recruit and profit from other distributors.
The products are not available through retail channels, but instead can only be obtained through one of its independent distributors (referred to as “associates”) or by direct order through the company.
The company has approximately 222,000 associates and 68,000 “preferred customers” in its worldwide distribution network.
In 2010, 90% of product sales was purchased by associates, and 10% by preferred customers.
As of 2010, its products are marketed in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
USANNA Essentials
Mega Antioxidant and Chelated Mineral make up USANA’s Essentials™ of great nutrition. Mega Antioxidant is USANA’s daily vitamin and antioxidant supplement for adults. Chelated Mineral is USANA’s daily mineral supplement for adults. Together, they have repeatedly been given top rankings in the NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements. New USANA customers start with the Essentials to build a strong foundation of health
Pack Includes
- Chelated Mineral (info)
“Chelated mineral products have been available for many years and more recently have seen increased usage in horse feeds. What is a chelated mineral? In very simple terms, a chelated mineral is a mineral such as copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt or iron (there are others) that is bonded to “small proteins”, peptides or amino acids.
The process of chelating improves the absorption of the mineral from the digestive tract. How this improvement is actually achieved is unknown at this time but it has been suggested that the chelated mineral is more soluble and can cross the intestinal wall more easily, (Rompala & Halley, 1995)
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/hrs3185
What does the term “chelated” mean when used to describe a mineral supplement?
Chelated basically means “firmly attached”, usually to an amino acid or other organic component so that the two do not disassociate in the digestive system.
Are chelated compounds better than other forms of minerals — such as carbonates or citrates or ascorbates?
For some minerals, a chelated compound is better than some other forms. For some it is similar or worse and therefore a waste of money.
http://www.supplementquality.com/z_askexpert/chelated.html
- Mega Antioxidant (info)
Mega Antioxidant supplies precisely balanced levels of high-quality, highly bioavailable vitamins and antioxidants that work together to protect your health
Overview
The product (outside the minerals) contains the usual suspects – and some at very high doses. We didn’t notice any effect. However there are many complaints of side effects from this product (look around the internet and you will see many complaints – despite the fact that all the distributors must be posting positive reviews like crazy)
Be careful with some of the dosages especially if you are not used to a strong Multi, or have certain reactions to mega does – I would be careful with this product
Vitamin C is listed as 1080% of recommended daily diet
Thiamin and Riboflavin at 900 and 790% respectively
Vitamin B12 at 1670%
I am not sure the benefit of supplying you with ten times the amount you require, though these are not fat based vitamins – and about the same as most other top brands – so as long as the ingredients are pure, all should be well
Interesting to note that USANNA has this as one of their – benefits
“The company even offers a million dollar guarantee that these vitamin supplements will not cause an individual to test positive in a drug test for the presence of stimulants”.??
In most places USANNA ranks in the top 3 or 4 products. But given there are so many other great Multi’s out there, which are better balanced in terms of dosages – I would prefer another brand
I however don’t doubt the research behind this brand if you look at their site and see the genuine R&D, I believe the ingredients themselves are top notch
For instance their partnerships with universities etc – see here
Conclusion
Good Product – watch out if you are susceptible to the dosages. Oh and to save the trees –you buy this package “green” – which means no box. However they ship it in paper and card – still …
