Last week’s headlines included the conviction of Jared Wheat and his dietary supplement company, Georgia-based Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for wire fraud, vitamin B6 changes in Australia, and a new range of creatine supplements by UK influencer James Smith.
Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals and CEO convicted of $4.7 million wire fraud scheme
Jared Wheat and his dietary supplement company, Georgia-based Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. were convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud after allegedly fabricating documents to deceive customers into believing that the company was certified as compliant with good manufacturing practices (GMPs).
The verdict followed a six-week trial. The jury also found Hi-Tech guilty of laundering millions of dollars in proceeds from the fraudulent scheme.
“After two prior federal felony convictions, Wheat yet again put profits over product quality and consumer safety by forging documents purporting to show that an independent, third-party audit company had certified Hi-Tech as complying with Good Manufacturing Practices,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, in a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. “As a result of the defendants’ deceit, Hi-Tech received millions of dollars from customers who relied on the fabricated documents.
“The defendants’ fraudulent scheme was uncovered through years of dedicated investigation and collaboration among law enforcement partners, and the verdict signals that companies that lie will face stern consequences.”
Wheat faces a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
Hi-Tech faces a fine of up to twice the value of the criminal proceeds involved in the offenses, which could total nearly $10 million, and probation of up to five years.
The sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Australia implements ‘pharmacist-only’ scheme for vitamin B6 from Jun 2027
Vitamin B6 supplements with a recommended daily dose of over 50mg but 200mg or less will be sold as ‘pharmacist-only’ products in Australia from June 2027.
Over 100 products will be affected by the new regulation.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced the changes after considering feedback from the industry and the public over the risk of peripheral neuropathy associated with vitamin B6 supplementation. Vitamin B6, in this case, includes forms such as pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine.
There are currently 116 health supplements or listed complementary medicines providing vitamin B6 at a maximum recommended daily dose (RDD) of more than 50mg but less than 200mg in Australia.
These products can be purchased from the shelves directly without going through the pharmacists.
Following the TGA’s decision, these 116 products will fall under Schedule 3 or ‘pharmacist-only’ medicine.
They will have to be registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and their labels updated to remain on the Australian market after June 2027.
“Further labelling changes may also be required, should the TGA decide to strengthen the warning statements required and change how vitamin B6 is labelled on products,” the TGA said in the announcement.
“The Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Ingredients) Determination (No. 3) 2025 will also need to be amended to reflect the scheduling changes.”
Creatine gummy critic unveils his trust-focused solution
The health influencer behind the recent viral creatine gummy testing scandal has launched a range of creatine supplements aiming to provide consumers with complete transparency and trust.
James Smith, the co-founder of Neutonic—known by many in the industry for uncovering widespread underdosing in creatine gummies—has revealed his brand’s new range of stick pack creatine supplements, which he says will finally help consumers take to their creatine daily and “actually reap the benefits” they’re seeking.
With each travel friendly and easy-to-use stick pack available in a range of flavors and containing 5 g of Creapure creatine monohydrate from Alzchem Trostberg, Smith presents the product as an easy and enjoyable creatine solution without the dosage uncertainties that come with gummies.
“Everyone should find the easiest and most efficient way to consume creatine,” he said in his launch video, arguing the “biggest tragedy” for the creatine industry is that it takes three to four weeks of supplementing every day in order to reach saturation and actually reap the benefits.
“I’m not selling you creatine, I’m selling you the outcome you will get when you actually take creatine every day.”
He added: “I’m not just aiming to make creatine supplementation something you do but something you actually look forward to.”
