SUNRIDER controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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1997
Plea agreement and penalties in tax case
The Chen founders entered a plea agreement. Reported consequences included incarceration or home detention and payments exceeding $100 million in back taxes, interest, and penalties, plus an additional customs-related payment.
1995
Federal tax and customs-fraud indictment
Tei-Fu Chen and Oi-Lin Chen were indicted on federal charges involving alleged conspiracy, tax evasion, false corporate tax returns, and smuggling.
1992
Product-related health claim and settlement
A woman alleged that Sunrider products had adversely affected her health, and the company settled the case out of court. Later information cited in reference material disputed the alleged product causation.
1987
Salmonella contamination report
Salmonella bacteria were reported in one Sunrider product. The issue was described as immediately corrected, and no cases of illness were reported in the reference material.
Criticism of therapeutic product claims
Stephen Barrett and Quackwatch criticized claims that Sunrider products could produce therapeutic effects and discussed regulatory concerns involving the FDA and California authorities. Sunrider instructed distributors not to make medical claims.