Balance of Nature is a company that sells freeze-dried fruit and vegetable supplements. Their products, Fruits & Veggies and Fiber & Spice, are marketed as a convenient way to supplement your diet and improve your health. However, there are some concerns about the company's claims, quality, and customer service.
What is Balance of Nature?
Balance of Nature, founded in 1997 by Dr. Douglas Howard, offers freeze-dried supplements, primarily Fruits & Veggies, encapsulated whole fruits and vegetables. The company also offers Fiber & Spice, a fiber supplement powder. The company promotes these products as a "Whole Health System," suggesting they can replace a portion of the whole foods needed for a healthy diet.
Concerns and Criticisms
While Balance of Nature aims to provide a convenient way to consume fruits and vegetables, several concerns and criticisms have been raised regarding their products and practices:
Exaggerated Claims
One of the biggest concerns is the company's health claims. Balance of Nature has been accused of making outlandish claims about the health benefits of its products, such as improving health with 16 whole fruits or 15 whole vegetables. These claims have been described as laughable, with concerns that the true level of fruits or veggies is minimal.
In July 2023, Balance of Nature settled a $1.1 million consumer protection lawsuit in California, with $250,000 for customer restitution. The lawsuit stated that the company made unlawful, exaggerated health claims about its products, including statements that they could prevent, treat, or cure serious diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Read also: Benefits of couples massage detailed
Regulatory Issues
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to Balance of Nature in 2019 outlining numerous "serious" regulatory violations after inspecting the company's facilities in Utah. The FDA cited the company for marketing its products as drugs intended to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent diseases like asthma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, high cholesterol, and cancer.
The FDA also cited Premium Production, Balance of Nature's manufacturer, for failing to comply with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP), specifically for failing to develop standards and test the products for composition and purity. The FDA deemed the products adulterated because they were prepared, packed, or held under conditions that did not meet CGMP requirements for dietary supplements. As a result, Balance of Nature was ordered to stop production and sales until they complied with FDA regulations. Operations resumed in November 2023.
Quality and Testing
Another concern is the quality and testing of Balance of Nature's products. Consumer Lab points out that the labeling doesn't even show what percentage of daily values it provides. While Consumer Lab reporting shows no significant levels of contaminants or toxins, and the ingredients don't pose any health risk, the infrequency of third-party testing and lack of transparency raise concerns.
When Innerbody Research reached out to the customer service team with questions about the company’s quality assurance practices, they learned that Balance of Nature wasn’t utilizing third-party testing on all finished products. The representative stated that they "periodically conduct third-party testing on incoming products and finished products" to check for heavy metals and pesticides below established limits. However, the finished product Certificates of Analysis are internal records only and not publicly available.
Cost
The cost of Balance of Nature's products is another significant downside. A 30-day supply of the "Fruits and Veggies" pair costs between $70.00 and $90.00 dollars. Compared to competitors, Balance of Nature is significantly more expensive. For example, Simply Nature's Promise Simply Fruits & Veggies has a similar ingredient list and serving size but costs $59.95 for a month's supply. Garden of Life's Raw Fiber Powder, a comparable fiber supplement, costs $38.99 for 30 servings, compared to Balance of Nature's $69.95 cost.
Read also: How digestive health affects weight loss
Customer Service and Return Policy
Many customers have reported negative experiences with Balance of Nature's customer service and return policy. Some customers have complained about automatic shipping, difficulty canceling orders, and refusal to provide refunds. The company's return policy requires customers to be preferred members and utilize the subscribe-and-save program, which requires an initial $24.95 fee. This policy is considered one of the least customer-friendly.
Customer Reviews
Balance of Nature has a C- rating and is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. There have been 351 complaints closed in the last three years, and the company's reviews are not good, with a 1.21 out of 5 customer rating (with just 106 reviews). Trustpilot seems to be a little more forgiving, with a 3.2 out of 5-star rating based on almost 21,000 reviews. Positive reviews report overall better health and even improvements in lab results.
However, many negative reviews cite issues with customer service, shipping, and the effectiveness of the products. Some customers have reported experiencing stomach issues, heartburn, and a lack of energy after taking the supplements. Others have complained about being pressured to suspend their accounts and being charged for products they didn't receive.
Alternatives to Balance of Nature
If you're looking for alternatives to Balance of Nature, here are a few options to consider:
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
The best way to get your daily vitamins and minerals is through a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables. If the cost of fresh produce is a concern, consider checking out guides to fueling your body without emptying your wallet.
Read also: Weight Loss Meds & BCBS
Other Supplements
The nutraceutical market offers many brands of phenomenal green drinks of outstanding quality. These products have the potential to improve health and assist in detoxifying the body. Some alternatives to Balance of Nature include:
Simply Nature's Promise Simply Fruits & Veggies: This whole-food supplement shares the same supplemental approach as Balance of Nature but with better safety and affordability. It is vegan and free of gluten, soy, and GMOs. It's GMP-certified and third-party tested, so you can be confident that it contains what’s advertised and isn’t contaminated by pesticides or heavy metals.
Garden of Life's Raw Fiber Powder: This fiber supplement has a better ingredient list with its inclusion of probiotics.