Schiff Nutrition International
An American nutritional-supplement company and brand associated with vitamins, sports nutrition, joint-health products, and other dietary supplements.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Schiff Nutrition International, also known as Schiff Vitamins, is an American dietary-supplement company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its corporate history began in 1936, when Joe Weider founded Weider Nutrition International. The business developed in the sports-nutrition field and became associated with products such as Tiger's Milk nutrition bars, an early commercial sports-food line. Over time, its portfolio broadened beyond sports nutrition into vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, weight-management products, and condition-oriented offerings. The company operated for many years under the Weider Nutrition International name. In 2005, it adopted the Schiff Nutrition International name, reflecting the Schiff identity that had become important to its consumer-facing supplement business. The company was publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and used the ticker WNI during its Weider period. In May 2012, its ticker was changed to SHF following the corporate name change. Schiff's product portfolio has included mainstream nutritional supplements as well as branded products aimed at particular consumer needs. Products identified with the company include Airborne, a line positioned around immune support; MegaRed, a krill-oil and omega-3 supplement line; and Move Free, a joint-health supplement brand. The company also maintained conventional vitamin, mineral, sports-nutrition, and dietary-supplement offerings. These brands placed Schiff in the mass-market consumer-health segment rather than solely in specialist bodybuilding nutrition. The company's history also includes regulatory scrutiny of advertising and product claims. In the 1970s, Weider was required to offer refunds to customers after a court found claims surrounding a rapid-use body-shaping product and its promotional imagery misleading. In the 1980s, the Federal Trade Commission challenged advertising for Anabolic Mega-Pak and Dynamic Life Essence; the matter was resolved through commitments restricting unsupported muscle-building and anabolic-steroid-substitute claims, together with a refund or research-funding obligation. In 2000, another FTC matter concerning weight-loss claims resulted in a payment to the agency and restrictions on unsupported claims for supplements, foods, drugs, and programs. In 2012, Schiff became the subject of competing acquisition interest. Bayer agreed to an acquisition arrangement, but Reckitt subsequently made a higher offer. Bayer did not counter, and Reckitt entered into an acquisition agreement with Schiff in November 2012. Schiff thereafter became part of Reckitt's consumer-health portfolio. The company is therefore best understood today as a Reckitt-owned supplement business and brand family whose historical identity spans sports nutrition, vitamins, and specialized consumer-health products.
History
Schiff Nutrition International traces its origins to Weider Nutrition International, founded by Joe Weider in 1936. The company emerged from the broader Weider fitness and bodybuilding business and initially developed products for sports and physical-performance consumers. One of its notable early product lines was Tiger's Milk, a nutrition-bar range regarded as an early example of commercial sports food. During the 1970s and 1980s, the company expanded its supplement activities while also facing challenges concerning advertising substantiation. In 1976, a court found claims associated with a five-minute body-shaper product misleading and required the company to offer refunds to roughly 100,000 customers. In 1984, the Federal Trade Commission challenged promotional claims for Anabolic Mega-Pak and Dynamic Life Essence. The case was settled in 1985 through restrictions on claims that the products could build muscle or serve as substitutes for anabolic steroids. The settlement also included a minimum refund obligation or, if refunds did not reach that amount, funding for research on nutrition and muscle development. The business continued to broaden its portfolio beyond bodybuilding-oriented products. It became involved in vitamins, minerals, herbs, weight-management products, and other consumer dietary supplements. In 1997, Weider Nutrition International became a New York Stock Exchange-listed company under the ticker WNI. A further FTC matter was resolved in 2000 after the agency challenged alleged weight-loss claims. The resulting agreement required a payment to the FTC and prohibited unsupported claims for a wide range of products and programs. In 2005, the company changed its name to Schiff Nutrition International. This marked a shift away from the Weider corporate identity and toward the Schiff consumer brand. The company later became associated with several recognizable supplement lines, including Airborne, MegaRed, and Move Free, while continuing to sell more conventional vitamin, mineral, and sports-nutrition products. In May 2012, its NYSE ticker changed to SHF in connection with the corporate renaming. Schiff was acquired in a competitive transaction in 2012. Bayer initially agreed to acquire the company, but Reckitt made a higher proposal the following month. Bayer chose not to counter, and Reckitt signed an acquisition agreement with Schiff on November 22, 2012. Schiff subsequently operated within Reckitt's consumer-health portfolio. Its historical development therefore runs from a specialist sports-nutrition business founded in the Weider era to a broader consumer-health supplement company with products addressing everyday nutrition, immune support, omega-3 supplementation, joint health, and sports performance.
- 2012
Ticker changes to SHF
[1]The company's NYSE ticker changed to SHF in May after the corporate name change.
- 2012
Acquisition by Reckitt
[1]After competing interest from Bayer and Reckitt, Schiff entered an acquisition agreement with Reckitt on November 22.
- 2005
Corporate name becomes Schiff Nutrition International
[1]Weider Nutrition International adopted the Schiff Nutrition International name.
- 2000
FTC weight-loss settlement
[1]The company settled an FTC complaint concerning allegedly unsupported weight-loss claims.
- 1997
Public listing on the NYSE
[1]Weider Nutrition International was listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker WNI.
- 1985
FTC settlement over sports-nutrition claims
[1]Weider settled an FTC complaint concerning claims for Anabolic Mega-Pak and Dynamic Life Essence.
- 1976
Body-shaper advertising case
[1]A court found advertising for a rapid-use body-shaping product misleading and ordered refunds to customers.
- 1936
Weider Nutrition International is founded
[1]Joe Weider founded the business that later became Schiff Nutrition International.
Products and positioning
A mass-market consumer-health and dietary-supplement company spanning everyday vitamins, sports nutrition, immune support, omega-3 supplementation, and joint health.
Immune-support dietary supplements
Airborne
Airborne is a Schiff-associated supplement line positioned around immune support. It forms part of the company's shift from specialist sports nutrition toward broad consumer-health products marketed for everyday use.
Omega-3 and krill-oil supplements
MegaRed
MegaRed is a branded supplement line centered on krill oil and omega-3 nutrition. It represents Schiff's participation in the mainstream nutritional-supplement market beyond basic vitamins and minerals.
Joint-health supplements
Move Free
Move Free is a joint-health supplement brand associated with Schiff. Its positioning addresses consumers seeking nutritional products for mobility and joint-care needs.
Sports-nutrition bars
Tiger's Milk
Tiger's Milk was an early Schiff predecessor product line consisting of nutrition bars. It is significant to the company's history because it illustrates the business's original emphasis on sports foods and performance-oriented nutrition.
Controversies
2000
FTC settlement concerning weight-loss claims
Weider Nutrition International settled an FTC complaint over alleged false claims for weight-loss products. The agreement included a payment to the FTC and a prohibition on unsupported claims for supplements and related programs.
1985
FTC settlement concerning muscle-building claims
The FTC challenged advertising for Anabolic Mega-Pak and Dynamic Life Essence. The settlement restricted claims that the products could build muscle or replace anabolic steroids and established a refund or research-funding obligation.
1976
Five-minute body-shaper advertising case
A Superior Court judge found claims and before-and-after imagery used to promote a five-minute body-shaper product misleading. Weider was ordered to offer refunds to approximately 100,000 customers.
Brand decisions
2012
Accept Reckitt's acquisition proposalM&ABackground
Bayer initially agreed to acquire Schiff, but Reckitt subsequently submitted a superior proposal.
Action taken
Schiff entered an acquisition agreement with Reckitt on November 22, 2012, after Bayer declined to make a counteroffer.
Aftermath
Schiff became a subsidiary within Reckitt's consumer-health operations.
- Bayer — Bayer did not submit a counteroffer after Reckitt made its superior proposal.
2005
Adopt the Schiff Nutrition International nameStrategyBackground
The company had operated under the Weider Nutrition International name since its founding.
Action taken
It changed its corporate name to Schiff Nutrition International and emphasized the Schiff identity.
Aftermath
The company continued developing a broader consumer supplement portfolio under the Schiff name.
Sources2 sources
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