The Federal Trade Commission finalized an order with Vanilla Chip LLC, doing business as TruHeight, and its two principals, Eden Stelmach and Justin Rapoport. The order requires them to pay $750,000 and bars them from making false or unsupported health claims and from using fake or incentivized consumer reviews.

The order settles allegations the FTC brought in April 2026 concerning TruHeight’s advertising for supplements marketed to children and teenagers. According to the FTC’s complaint, the company and its principals deceptively advertised a range of supplements that claimed to boost height growth in children and teens.

Claims and reviews at issue

The FTC alleged that TruHeight’s height-based growth claims were unsubstantiated because the company lacked competent and reliable scientific evidence to support them. The complaint also alleged that TruHeight relied on reviews written by its own employees and vendors, as well as by consumers who were offered a free product or discount in exchange for writing a five-star review.

The complaint further alleged that TruHeight used fake social media profiles that appeared to belong to real, existing users but were actually operated by bots. The allegations were resolved through the Commission’s final order; the source material does not state that the allegations were admitted.

Financial and conduct restrictions

The final order imposes a $4 million judgment on TruHeight, Stelmach and Rapoport. The judgment will be partially suspended after they pay $750,000, based on their inability to pay the full amount.

  • Making false or unsubstantiated height and growth claims
  • Making claims about the health benefits, performance, efficacy, safety or side effects of products covered by the order unless the claims are not misleading and are supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence
  • Misrepresenting that a reviewer exists, used the product, service or business being reviewed, or had the stated experience
  • Buying consumer reviews conditioned on a particular positive or negative sentiment

The Commission voted 2-0 to finalize the complaint and order and to provide a response to the commenter. The Federal Trade Commission said its work includes promoting competition and protecting and educating consumers.