XanGo
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XanGo is an international multi-level marketing company based in Lehi, Utah. It sells a beverage called XanGo, which it promotes as a health drink. XanGo is produced according to a proprietary formula for using an undisclosed quantity of whole mangosteen fruit (including the rind) in a beverage. The company was granted a patent on this product which was subsequently revoked. They have appealed. [1]
XanGos commission structure pays 50% of the purchase price of the drink up the chain through 9 levels of "distributors." Participants are encouraged to pay an initial US $35.00 fee to sign up to be a distributor, and pay US $20 per year to maintain their membership. From there, participants must purchase 4 bottles of juice at a cost of US $100 plus postage every month in order to receive commissions from their downline. [2]
XanGo sponsors Real Salt Lake, an MLS soccer team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. [3]
Both the President and the Chief Financial Officer of Xango once worked for Morinda (now called Tahitian Noni International).
Health Benefits
XanGo claims their juice is "anti-inflammatory," "anti-microbial," "anti-fungal," "anti-viral," "anti-cancer," "anti-tumor," "anti-ulcer," "anti-hepatotoxic," "anti-rhinoviral," and "anti-allergic."[4] Supporters who sell the product cite the large number of antioxidants in the rind of the fruit as well many other health benefits. [5] It is important to note that none of these claims have been substantially proven.
Controversy
Controversy has arisen concerning the legitimacy of the Xango company and it's product. These issues center around proof that XanGo meets it's claims of improving health, and around the nature of the product marketing. As of yet, there has been no conclusive evidence substantiating or refuting the touted health benefits of the XanGo juice or the Mangosteen fruit. [6][7]
Dr. Ralph Moss, the author of several natural remedy books states:
"...the only reason I can see that the promoters of mangosteen can get away with charging $37 for this product is that they are playing on patients' hopes and fears in a cynical way. Without the health claims, open or implied, the product could only be sold for at most $5 or $6 (which, for example, is the cost of antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice)."[8]