Morris County Diet Supplement Provider Used Fillers, Lied to FDA, Customers

The owner of a Morris County dietary supplement provider used fillers in his products, altered documents to the FDA, and lied to his customers over a four-year period, United States Attorney Paul Fishman announced Wednesday.

Barry Steinlight, 69, of Hackettstown, and owner of Raw Deal in Flanders, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud. Steinlight admitted the company’s gross sales during the four-year scheme were between $7 and $20 million, and has agreed to forfeit more than $1 million in profits, Fishman said.

Steinlight, who serves as president and owner of the company, told his employees between 2009 and Nov. 2013 to add fillers, including maltodextrin, viobin cocoa replacer, and rice flours to the dietary ingredients and supplements for Raw Deal’s customers.

According to Raw Deal’s website, the company “is a multifunctional supplier to the botanical, nutritional, pharmaceutical and food industries. Our mission is to provide our customers with great customer service using the best ingredients in the industry.”

The fillers were added to the products without customer consent or knowledge.

Court documents also showed Steinlight directed employees to alter documents prepared for the Food and Drug Administration so as not to get caught.

The charge brings a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss caused by the offense. Steinlight is scheduled for sentencing on March 30, 2015.