Another Blow to Mislabeled Products … Herba Natural Products, Inc. Enjoined from Selling Reishi (Lingzhi) Health Food Products
Leaders in the expanding industry selling Japanese red reishi (Lingzhi) mushroom extract products are cracking down on companies that appear to be selling reishi (Lingzhi) mushroom products from non-Japanese sources with packaging stating that they are products of Japan.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 19, 2005 -- Leaders in the expanding industry
selling Japanese red reishi (Lingzhi) mushroom extract products are cracking
down on companies that appear to be selling reishi (Lingzhi) mushroom products
from non-Japanese sources with packaging stating that they are products of
Japan. In connection with that crackdown, a federal district court recently
entered an order permanently enjoining Herba Natural Products, Inc. of New York,
NY (Herba) from selling Royal King Ling Zhi and other reishi (Lingzhi) product
that is falsely designated as being of Japanese origin. The order also enjoined
Herba from selling Royal King Ling Zhi and other reishi (Lingzhi) product in
packaging that strongly resembles the packaging used by Canited International
Industries Corporation (Canited) to market its famous Nissan brand red reishi
products.
The Court for the Central District of California issued the
order pursuant to the settlement of a lawsuit brought against Herba by the
Japanese Reishi Association (JRA), a nonprofit association of leaders in the
production of red reishi mushroom extract products in Japan, along with
JRA-recognized distributers Canited and Nikkei (Canada) Marketing, Ltd..
(Nikkei).
The settlement between the parties also provided that Herba
would deliver to Canited and JRA for destruction of all the allegedly offending
packaging of Royal King Ling Zhi that was unused. In addition, Herba agreed to
pay $16,600 to Canited , Nikkei, and JRA in settlement of their legal claims.
“The Japanese Reishi Association is pleased to have helped North American
consumers by ridding the market of another product that misled consumers into
thinking that they are buying high quality Japanese-made reishi products when
they were in fact buying reishi from unknown origin,” said Michael Wong, North
American Representative of JRA.
The destruction of the infringing Royal
King Ling Zhi’s packaging will take place on June 1, 2005 at 10 a.m., at the law
offices Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, LLP, located at 865 S.
Figueroa St. 10th Floor, California 90017. David Quinto of Quinn Emanuel, an
attorney with extensive experience handling matters relating to the sale and
distribution of counterfeit goods, handled the litigation against Herba on
behalf of JRA, Nikkei and Canited.
JRA, Nikkei, and Canited brought this
lawsuit against Herba in connection with a campaign against distributors of
reishi mushroom extract products with false designations of origin. “The
campaign is directed at educating the public about the importance of
distinguishing the authentic Japanese red reishi from imposters and preventing
companies that sell inferior products from capitalizing on the reputation of
superior quality Japanese red reishi products,” Wong explained. Japanese reishi
health food products are generally priced higher than those from other
countries, and consumers pay extra to receive the superior quality of the reishi
health food products and its stringent manufacturing control in
Japan.
Reishi mushrooms have been used for centuries among Orientals for
their nutritional value. It is regarded as one of the best oriental herbs.
Reishi has proven anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial
and anti-oxidant properties. Its greatest potential medical benefit is its
ability to strengthen the body’s immune system. It is effective in dealing with
a wide variety of illness including liver disorders, hypertension, arthritis,
menopausal anxiety, asthma, hypothyroidism, insomnia, hearing diseases and
cancer. It has also demonstrated exceptional anti-stress properties that help
improve memory, ease tension and sharpen concentration.
About the
Japanese Reishi Association
The Japan Reishi Association is an international
non-profit organization supported by industry leaders and government
organizations. JRA is dedicated to helping maintain the highest standards of
product quality and business practices in the Reishi industry worldwide by
informing consumers about Japan Reishi health food products and manufacturers.
More Information Available at: http://www.japan-reishi.org/en/
About Canited
International Industries Corporation
Canited International Industries
Corporation was first established in 1980 as a marketing firm for international
products worldwide. Since then, Canited has consistently proven its ability as a
leading global marketing company of international brand name products. More
Information Available at: http://www.canited.com
About Nikkei (Canada) Marketing
Ltd.
Nikkei (Canada) Marketing Ltd. was established in 2003 as a marketing
firm for international products worldwide. With its proven successful record in
a relatively short period of time, Nikkei has been expanding and adding more
items to its product profiles.
About Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver &
Hedges, LLP
Quinn Emanuel is a 200-lawyer litigation firm with offices in Los
Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Palm Springs and San Diego.
The firm aggressively litigates a wide variety of business disputes for “Fortune
500” companies as well as smaller companies. Since the firm’s founding, it has
won over 90 percent of its trials. More Information Available at: http://www.quinnemanuel.com
# # #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb241610.htm