Alternative Health Guru Sues Company Over His Own Product
April 29, 2010— -- An alternative health guru is suing the company that makes his namesake supplement, claiming it nearly killed him with 1,000 times the recommended dose of Vitamin D.
Gary Null, 65, creator of Gary Null's Ultimate Power Meal, accused Triarco Industries of New Jersey of "botching the testing and manufacturing of the supplement," his attorney, Leslie Fourton, told ABC News. The allegedly tainted batch also sent six other consumers to the hospital, Fourton said.
Null claims he suffered severe kidney damage and intense pain after consuming just two daily doses of the allegedly tainted supplement, which he mixed with water and drank. He experienced "extreme fatigue" and sought help from his doctor. The allegedly tainted dose nearly killed him, Fourton said.
Null is the author of more than 70 books on nutrition and anti-aging advice and creator of the powdered dietary supplement line.
The batch in question contained 1,000 times the recommended dose of Vitamin D, according to Fourton who continued to state that Null "was informed by doctors at that time that he was getting too much Vitamin D. That the supplement contained 2 million units versus 2,000. The supplement contained way too much Vitamin D for the recommended use... There was an overdose of Vitamin D."
When he first consumed the allegedly tainted supplement in December 2009, Null experienced some initial discomfort but continued to drink it, thinking it would make him feel better, according to the suit.
"Null kept using the product because he thought it would ultimately make him feel better, but it didn't, said Fourton. "There wasn't anything else that he could do but drink a lot of water to cleanse his system."
Null says that while he was in excruciating pain, his phone starting ringing with calls from angry customers. "While all of this was going on, Gary was getting a lot of phone calls from customers with many, many complaints," said Fourton.
"From what we have been told, the bad unit has been recalled and no one else will be affected by this," Fourton said.
Fourton added that Null is feeling much better. "This is the only time in 30 years that an incident like this has happened. We don't want anything to affect the physical well-being of anyone or the reputation of the company."
Fourton confirmed to ABC News that Null is seeking $10 million in damages from the New Jersey Manufacturer.