Chris Ashenden Scandal
Meet Chris Ashenden, a man with a checkered past who founded the billion-dollar supplement company, AG1. This convicted criminal has managed to weave his way into the health and wellness industry, peddling a green smoothie mix that claims to meet all your nutritional needs. But don’t be fooled by the glossy marketing and high-profile endorsements. The Athletic Greens scandal reveals a murky story filled with deceit and false promises.
Chris Ashenden's Troubled History in New Zealand
Let's start at the beginning. Ashenden, a New Zealand native, fled his home country after being convicted of 43 breaches of the New Zealand Fair Trading Act. His crime? Running a massive rent-to-own real estate operation that left many people financially devastated. He promised vulnerable individuals a path to homeownership, but in reality, he retained ownership, seizing homes and retaining payments when tenants defaulted under strict and often unreasonable conditions. It's the classic story of a grifter exploiting those in need.
From Real Estate Fraud to Supplement Company
After his conviction, Ashenden hid his money through a complex network of corporate shell companies and eventually resurfaced in America. Here, he founded Athletic Greens, later rebranded as AG1. The irony is palpable. From real estate fraud to health supplements, Ashenden has shown a consistent knack for exploiting regulatory loopholes to his advantage.
AG1 Supplement Review
AG1 is marketed as a nutritional powerhouse, a green smoothie that promises to improve gut health, boost immunity, and provide a balanced diet. The cost? A whopping $99 in the U.S., £90 in the U.K., and $180 in Australia for a tiny pouch of powder. If you've been on the internet or listened to any health podcast recently, you've probably heard the hype. But here's the kicker: AG1's claims are dubious at best.
AG1 Health Claims
The product is a proprietary blend of 75 ingredients, but the company refuses to share detailed certificates of analysis, including heavy metal loads and mycotoxin profiles. When pressed, they hide behind the guise of protecting trade secrets. But the truth is, this lack of transparency is a red flag. If the product were genuinely as beneficial as they claim, why the secrecy?
Athletic Greens Founder’s Criminal Past
Now, let's talk about the man behind the brand. Ashenden doesn’t have a background in nutrition or health science. He’s a former used car salesman turned real estate fraudster. His only qualification in the wellness industry seems to be his ability to market effectively and exploit regulatory gaps. It's deeply disappointing to see someone with such a dubious past making health claims without any real scientific backing.
Real Estate Fraud Turned Supplement Company
To understand the depths of Ashenden’s deception, let's delve into the real estate fraud that started it all. In New Zealand, Ashenden advertised a rent-to-own scheme, promising people a chance to own their homes by renting. The reality was starkly different. Under the terms of his contracts, tenants had to maintain the property in its original condition for 30 years, and any missed payments or unauthorized improvements could result in eviction and forfeiture of all payments made. It was a recipe for disaster, exploiting people's dreams of homeownership for his gain.
Supplement Industry Regulation Issues
Ashenden's legal troubles didn’t end there. After being convicted and filing for bankruptcy, he fled New Zealand and rebranded himself in the U.S. as a wellness guru. His transition from real estate to supplements is telling of his opportunistic nature. The supplement industry in the U.S. is notoriously under-regulated, making it the perfect playground for someone like Ashenden.
Athletic Greens Scandal: Deceptive Marketing
The lack of regulation means that supplement companies can make broad health claims without substantial evidence. They can only make "structure/function" claims, such as "supports kidney health," without saying "cures kidney infection." This loophole allows companies like AG1 to market their products aggressively without facing stringent scrutiny.
AG1 High-Profile Endorsements
Ashenden leveraged his marketing skills to align AG1 with influential figures in the health and wellness space. People like Tim Ferriss and Andrew Huberman, who have massive followings, endorsed the product, lending it credibility despite the shaky science behind it. These endorsements play a crucial role in the product's popularity, but they also reveal a troubling trend of influencers prioritizing profit over integrity.
AG1 Safety Concerns
The reality is that AG1’s claims about its health benefits are largely unsubstantiated. The product is a blend of various nutrients, but there’s little evidence to suggest that it can deliver on its promises. Moreover, the company has faced lawsuits over high levels of lead in its product and allegations of shipping moldy ingredients. These issues raise serious concerns about the safety and efficacy of AG1.
Athletic Greens Lawsuit Over Lead Content
In 2015, the Environmental Research Center sued Athletic Greens for high levels of lead, which they detected in the product. The company settled the case, agreeing to include warnings about potential lead exposure on its packaging in California. However, they didn’t include this warning elsewhere in the U.S., leaving customers unaware of the potential risk. This selective disclosure is another example of Ashenden's deceptive practices.
AG1 Moldy Ingredients Lawsuit
In 2020, Travis Edwards, a former head of global fulfillment and distribution at Athletic Greens, filed a lawsuit claiming he was fired for reporting mold in the ingredients. According to Edwards, the company ignored his concerns and shipped the contaminated products to customers. While the case was ultimately dismissed, the allegations highlight serious issues in AG1's supply chain management and quality control.
Influencer Endorsements and AG1
What’s even more disturbing is how AG1 uses doctors and health professionals as influencers to promote their product. These endorsements give the illusion of credibility, but many of these professionals lack expertise in nutrition. For instance, Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist specializing in ophthalmology, and Peter Attia is trained as an oncologist. Neither has a background in nutrition, yet they promote AG1 as a health supplement. This misleading marketing strategy exploits the trust people place in medical professionals.
AG1 Health Benefits Debunked
AG1's marketing focuses on selling a lifestyle rather than a scientifically-backed product. They promise simplicity and health benefits that are not supported by rigorous evidence. This approach is reminiscent of the tactics used by Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos, who promised revolutionary blood tests without the technology to back it up. Like Holmes, Ashenden has built his brand on grandiose claims and minimal substance.
Need for Stricter Supplement Industry Regulation
The supplement industry needs stricter regulation to protect consumers from misleading products. Companies like AG1 should be held accountable for their claims and transparent about their product’s ingredients and potential risks. Consumers deserve to know what they’re putting into their bodies and whether it will genuinely benefit their health.
Holding AG1 Accountable
As we peel back the layers of AG1’s story, it’s clear that the company’s success is built on a foundation of deception and exploitation. Ashenden’s transition from a real estate fraudster to a supplement mogul is a testament to his ability to manipulate markets and exploit regulatory loopholes. It’s a harsh reminder that the wellness industry is rife with charlatans who prioritize profit over people’s health.
The public needs to be more critical of health claims and demand transparency from supplement companies. Influencers and medical professionals should also be more discerning about the products they endorse, ensuring that they are backed by solid scientific evidence. Only then can we start to clean up the wellness industry and protect consumers from harmful and misleading products.
In conclusion, the story of AG1 and its founder, Chris Ashenden, is a sobering reminder of the importance of skepticism and due diligence. While the promise of a simple solution to complex health issues is enticing, the reality is often far less glamorous. Consumers must be vigilant, question the claims made by supplement companies, and seek out products that are backed by real science. It’s time to hold companies like AG1 accountable and demand better for our health and wellbeing.