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The MonaVie Scam

Founded in 2005 in Utah, MonaVie expanded quickly into several worldwide markets. Within five years it claimed over 100,000 distributors with yearly sales approaching $1 billion. Detractors have multiplied, too, calling both the product and business model a scam.

  1. The Product

    • The company's official website claims that MonaVie, a blend of 19 juices with acai as its key ingredient, provides one with "the antioxidants and phytonutrients you need to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle." Yet, "Men's Journal" website for Dec. 4, 2008, rated it below plain apple juice or orange juice for phenolics and vitamin C. The big difference was MonaVie's price of about $1.20 per one-ounce serving compared with about 75 cents for eight ounces of grape juice or orange juice.

    The Science Behind MonaVie

    • MonaVie's distributors mostly use personal testimonials. The company's official stand is that "it's just a juice." Scientific data to support any superiority of its products over regular juices or fruits is scarce. One study published in "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry," Sept. 24, 2008, reported that a test group of 12 people, after drinking MonaVie, showed an increase in serum antioxidants and a decrease of oxidation in fat cells.

    The Business Model

    • Because of its multi-level marketing plan, promoters often promise rewarding incomes with little cost. The recommended personal use of MonaVie juice could cost at least $130 per month. The company's disclosure statement for the year July 4, 2008 to June 6, 2009, reports that of MonaVie's close to 100,000 qualifying distributors, 50 percent averaged $23 per week commissions. Less than one percent earned over $1,000 per week. At the top levels, 763 earned over $1,000 per week.

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