Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Recommends Reliv Discontinue Earnings and Product Performance Claims

McLean, VA – December 16, 2024 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) of BBB National Programs recommended that Reliv International, Inc., a direct selling company that sells proprietary nutritional supplements, discontinue product performance and earnings claims made by salesforce members on Facebook and YouTube. However, DSSRC determined that Reliv’s “peak performance” claim was supported. 

The seven earnings claims and four product performance claims at issue were identified by DSSRC through its ongoing, independent monitoring of advertising claims in the direct selling industry and through an investigation conducted by a consumer advocacy group. 

Earnings Claims

• “. . . Some individuals use Reliv as a source of supplemental income, earning enough money for a goal as simple as making car or mortgage payment, for example. Others operate their Reliv business full-time as their primary source of income.”
• “. . . I love to travel and my Reliv business has given me the mobility, energy and income opportunities to do so whenever I choose.”
• “28 yrs ago you came into our lives as an answer to our prayer for a way to get out from under a mountain of debt and improve our family’s health in so many ways! This photo is a reminder of how we’ve been able to pay it forward to others and make a difference in their life!!”
• “When you work from home, own your business like Reliv, enjoying residual income not just today income. This is the kind of income that keeps coming in whether you work or choose not to work because you built it solid to last. You can choose your office view anywhere, anytime. Thank you Reliv for changing our lives and now we get to change other people’s lives.”
• “Three kids finished debt-FREE (and healthy) from private colleges – thanks to Reliv!”
• “At Reliv, we see the growing trend of people seeking a way to boost their income and gain financial stability. If that sounds like you, then we invite you to explore what Reliv has to offer. . . . Imagine earning money while getting healthy.” 
• “Low start-up cost + product discounts, weekly pay, 100% buyback guarantee” and “Retail Profit: 20-40%, Wholesale Profit: 5-20%, Overrides, and Bonuses & Trips based on personal effort and dedication.”

Product Claims

• “Want Energy, Stamina, Endurance, Mental Clarity, No Body Discomforts and More so you can Feel Better Than Good??” 
• “Strengthen Their Immune Systems” “Essential vitamins, minerals and micronutrients give growing bodies what they need to thrive.”
• “ . . . when you get to be my age joint pain, muscle pain, and things like that appear but because I am on these amazing Reliv products is the reason why I have stamina, energy, and mental clarity and no discomfort.
• “Go all in with the ultimate investment in your healthy aging journey to promote longevity from the inside out. Building on the benefits of Reliv’s Tomorrow System this system also contains ReversAge to further disrupt cellular aging and keep your body functioning at peak performance so you can live your best life your whole life.”

DSSRC was concerned that the challenged claims communicated the message that salesforce members can generally expect to earn significant or substantial income, pay off debt, and/or earn a full-time income from the Reliv business opportunity and that Reliv products can improve certain health-related conditions. 

Reliv did not attempt to substantiate the challenged earnings claims and informed DSSRC that many of the posts were several years old and were reconciled prior to its receipt of DSSRC’s inquiry.  

Reliv was able to remove six of the seven earnings claims posts and is in the process of removing the challenged language from the remaining YouTube post. Reliv did claim that it could support the challenged product performance claims, but yet has asked its salesforce members to remove three of the four posts at issue.

Regarding the final product performance claim, that “…this system also contains ReversAge to further disrupt cellular aging and keep your body functioning at peak performance so you can live your best life your whole life,” which appears on the Reliv website and refers to Reliv’s “Tomorrow System,” a bundle of several Reliv products that are promoted to optimize the aging process, DSSRC concluded that the statement of supporting longevity “from the inside out” would be reasonably understood by consumers as meaning that the supplement system works by addressing key mechanisms of aging such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular repair. 

After examining the evidence, DSSRC determined that Reliv was able to support the claim by demonstrating that the proprietary formula contained in the Reliv Tomorrow System disrupts the cellular aging by enhancing internal processes that maintain cellular health and improving overall well-being.

In its company statement, Reliv stated its support for the industry self-regulation process. 

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of DSSRC decisions, visit the DSSRC Cases and Closures webpage.