Kim Kardashian and her sister Khloe face a possible class-action lawsuit over their diet product QuickTrim, which detractors say contains high levels of caffeine, an ingredient that’s “not safe or effective for weight loss.”
Kim and Khloe caused a stir over their paid endorsement of the product, which features a picture of bikini-clad Kim. It has reportedly generated $45 million in revenue since they struck the deal with New Jersey-based Windmill Health Products in 2009.
Law firm Bursor & Fisher is preparing a suit against Windmill and the marketing claims made by the Kardashians. An e-mail it sent to product users included a link to the firm’s Web site, which states, “The active ingredient in QuickTrim weight loss products is a large dose of caffeine . . . The FDA has determined that caffeine is not safe or effective for weight loss.”
Partner Scott A. Bursor told us, “My firm has been retained by an individual that purchased QuickTrim, and we are investigating the matter. We have provided written notice of our client’s claims to the company and others involved in marketing QuickTrim,” and his firm is reaching out to other QuickTrim users. Bursor & Fisher has won or settled cases against firms peddling products including hair loss remedy Avacor and diet supplement Xenadrine.
In January 2010, Kim said she used QuickTrim to shed 15 pounds in weeks. Last year she tweeted that she was using it to get in shape for her wedding, and Khloe also claimed she lost 15 pounds.
Adriane Fugh-Berman, a physician at Georgetown University Medical Center, warned in 2010 that QuickTrim contains large amounts of caffeine. She said, “They’re not saying how much caffeine is in these pills. Too much caffeine can make you jittery and increase your blood pressure and pulse. If you pop a couple of these pills with your Starbucks . . . you could get caffeine poisoning, which can cause heart arrhythmias.” Reps for the Kardashians and Windmill didn’t get back to us.