The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) sent a warning letter to the Massachusetts-based company Chill6 for its alleged drug claims, including that its beverage suppresses anxiety symptoms, and the use of the illegal drug phenibut in its product also named Chill6.
The FDA claims that Chill6’s use of phenibut in its beverage makes the product adulterated. The same ingredient was the focus of an enforcement action back in 2019. Three years ago, the American Herbal Products Association, the Consumer Health Care Products Association, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, and the United Natural Products Alliance warned retailers not to sell products containing phenibut due to the discovery that it could have psychotropic or even addictive properties at higher dosages. Despite these findings, additional research found that the product is still being sold.
Phenibut, also sold under the brand names Anvifen, Fenibut, and Noofen is a drug used in Russia but has never been approved for any drug usage in the U.S. nor has it cleared any tests to qualify as a New Dietary Ingredient. Yet it remains a product easily purchased online.
The attorneys at Finkelstein, Blankinship, Frei-Pearson & Garber, LLP have successfully represented consumers mislead by deceptive claims and false advertising and are currently investigating this matter. You or someone you know may have a claim if you have fallen victim to Chill6’s false advertising and were sold the Chill6 beverage or any other product containing this illegal drug. Contact us to discuss your legal options.