Force Factor Class Action: Are Supplement Dosages Misleading?

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Force Factor, alleging that the company misrepresents the dosage amounts of certain supplements on their product labels.

Consumers Affected: Individuals who purchased Force Factor supplements listed in the lawsuit.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Force Factor, a popular brand of dietary supplements, is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that the company misrepresents the dosage amounts of certain products, misleading consumers and causing them to overpay.

Filed by Daniel Mendez in a California federal court, the case claims that Force Factor prominently advertises specific dosage amounts on product labels, but each capsule, tablet, or gummy contains only a fraction of what's advertised.

Lawsuit Claims Force Factor Misrepresents Dosage Amounts on Supplement Labels

Mendez purchased Force Factor's Longjack Tongkat Ali Max 1,200 mg product from a Vitamin Shoppe store in Redlands, CA. He alleges that the product's label prominently displayed "1,200 mg" but that each capsule actually contained only 600 mg of the active ingredient. 

This, he argues, is deceptive and misleading to consumers, who believe they are purchasing a product with a higher dosage than what is actually provided.

“Plaintiff relied on the representations made on the Product’s label in deciding to purchase the Product. These representations and warranties were part of his basis of the bargain, in that he would not have purchased the Product, or would only have been willing to purchase the Product at a lower price, had he known the representations were false,” the complaint states.

Deceptive Labeling Practices Alleged in Force Factor Class Action

The lawsuit draws attention to the significant growth of the dietary supplement market in recent years, with the global market value estimated to reach $300 billion by 2028. It claims that in an effort to gain market share and outsell competitors, many companies, including Force Factor, have engaged in deceptive labeling practices to make their products seem more appealing to consumers.

This case specifically alleges that Force Factor uses misleading labeling, such as prominently advertising a specific dosage amount on the front label while concealing the actual dosage per capsule in fine print on the back label. This practice, Mendez argues, misleads consumers about the true amount of active ingredients they are getting in each serving.

“As a result, Defendant has charged consumers a premium for the Products, while cutting costs and reaping the financial benefits of selling dietary supplements with less than the advertised dosage in each Product,” the lawsuit alleges.

Consumers Overcharged Due to Misleading Dosage Claims, Lawsuit Says

The case argues that these labeling practices mislead consumers into believing they are receiving a higher dosage of the supplement than they actually are, causing them to overpay for the products. It claims that consumers would not have purchased the products, or would have paid less for them, had they known the true dosage amount per capsule.

The lawsuit identifies several Force Factor products that are allegedly mislabeled:

• Somnapure 3 mg Melatonin
• Somnapure Extra Strength 10 mg Melatonin
• Somnapure Gummies 10 mg Melatonin
• Somnapure Muscle Recovery 5 mg Melatonin
• Somnapure Softgels 5 mg Melatonin
• Test X180 PM + 3 mg Melatonin
• Cordyceps 1,000 mg
• Horny Goat Weed Max 1,500 mg
• L-Arginine 3,000 mg
• Longjack Tongkat Ali Max 1,200 mg
• MACA Max 2,000 mg
• Tribulus Terrestris Max 2,000 mg
• Women’s Probiotic 50 Billion CFUs
• Women’s Fat Burner 500 mg Green Tea Extract

It provides specific examples of the alleged mislabeling. For instance, it claims that consumers must ingest two capsules of the Longjack Tongkat Ali Max product to achieve the advertised dosage of 1,200 mg and five capsules of the L-Arginine 3,000 mg product to reach the advertised 3,000 mg dosage.

Supplement Companies Face Growing Scrutiny Over Labeling Accuracy

Force Factor is not the only supplement company facing legal challenges over dosage misrepresentation. In June 2024, a proposed class action lawsuit was filed against Qunol, alleging that its magnesium, turmeric, CoQ10, and fish oil supplements are falsely advertised. The lawsuit claims that the dosage amounts prominently displayed on the front labels are misleading, as consumers must ingest multiple capsules, gummies, or chews to actually receive the advertised dosage.

Similarly, a class action lawsuit against NOW Health Group alleges that its Magnesium Citrate softgels contain less magnesium than advertised, misrepresenting the magnesium content of its supplements and violating federal law and regulations.

In the Force Factor deceptive labeling class action lawsuit, Mendez aims to represent a nationwide class of consumers who purchased the allegedly mislabeled Force Factor products. He claims violations of various consumer protection laws and seeks an order compelling Force Factor to cease its allegedly misleading marketing practices, destroy all misleading materials, conduct a corrective advertising campaign, restore any unjust enrichment, and pay restitution and punitive damages.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Mendez v. Force Factor, LLC
• Case Number: 5:24-cv-02236
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Lilach H. Klein, Michael T. Houchin, and Zachary M. Crosner (Crosner Legal, P.C.)

Have you purchased any of the listed Force Factor supplements? Did you find the dosage information to be accurate? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.