LAS VEGAS – The height of dishonesty. That’s what federal regulators are alleging against Eden Stelmach, co-founder of TruHeight, and her business partner Justin Rapoport. The pair, operating through their Nevada-based Vanilla Chip LLC, are facing serious accusations of peddling false hope – and ineffective supplements – to parents desperate to help their children grow taller. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed charges alleging a systematic scheme to deceive consumers with unsubstantiated claims about TruHeight’s height-boosting abilities.
For years, TruHeight flooded social media, search engines, and email inboxes with promises of “Pure Ingredients, Real Results,” and even boldly claimed to have a “Clinically Proven” formula for height growth in kids and teens. But according to the FTC, those claims were built on a foundation of hot air. Investigators found absolutely no “competent and reliable scientific evidence” to support the company’s assertions.
Fake Reviews Fueled the Fraud
The deception didn’t stop at misleading advertising. TruHeight allegedly went a step further, actively manipulating online reviews to create a false impression of customer satisfaction. The FTC alleges the company relied heavily on reviews penned by their *own* employees and vendors, or offered free products and discounts in exchange for glowing, five-star ratings. This manufactured social proof was designed to lure unsuspecting parents into believing TruHeight’s products actually delivered on their promises.
“They weren’t just selling supplements; they were selling a dream – a dream built on lies,” stated Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The law is clear: you can’t make health claims without backing them up with solid science. TruHeight ignored that law and exploited the hopes of parents and the vulnerabilities of children.”
The FTC’s complaint paints a picture of a calculated effort to profit from parental anxieties. TruHeight began pushing its supplements as early as 2020, steadily building a business based on false promises. Stelmach and Rapoport, as co-founders, co-owners, and co-chief executive officers, allegedly oversaw the entire operation, fully aware of the deceptive practices.
While the specific terms of the settlement haven’t been fully disclosed, it’s clear that the FTC is sending a strong message: preying on the hopes of families won’t be tolerated. This case serves as a stark reminder that when it comes to health claims, consumers deserve truth, not empty promises and fabricated reviews. The investigation remains ongoing, and further penalties could be imposed.
Key Facts:
- Defendants: Eden Stelmach, Justin Rapoport, Vanilla Chip LLC (doing business as TruHeight)
- Crime: False advertising and reliance on fake/incentivized reviews
- Location: Nevada
- Timeline: Deceptive practices allegedly began in 2020
- Alleged Scheme: Making unsubstantiated claims about height-enhancing supplements for children and teens, and using fake reviews to boost sales.
- FTC Action: Filed charges against the defendants, seeking to halt the deceptive practices.
Source: FTC.gov
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