Many people in America have heard of the supplement company Balance of Nature. This is mainly due to their heavy advertising on radio and commercials on TV stations like Fox News, using paid actors, actresses and celebrities, such as Kathie Lee Gifford, or doctors like Dr. Roger Bond.
What’s the truth about Balance of Nature though? When did it start, who founded it, who owns it now, where is it based, how are its Fruits & Veggies capsules made, and where are they manufactured?
Many people also ask where its ingredients come from, is it sold in stores like Walmart and Costco, and why has Balance of Nature been warned by the FDA recently?
Contents
History: How Long Has Balance of Nature Been on the Market?
The supplement company Balance of Nature was founded in 1997 by Dr. Douglas Howard, a chiropractic physician. He began the business in St. George, Utah and it remains there to this day.
According to the company’s website, Dr. Howard became interested in and studied the health benefits of phytochemicals found in plants. Subsequently he invented and formulated the Fruits & Veggies product in 1997 from 31 different freeze-dried fruits and vegetables.
How is Balance of Nature Made and What is It Made From?
Fruits & Veggies capsules are made from the freeze-dried powder of 15 vegetables and 16 fruits. According to the company, they use an “advanced air-dry and vacuum-cold process, which stabilizes the maximum nutrient content.”
They also say that the produce they use is “picked at peak ripeness”, “independently tested” and “ground into an extremely fine powder” before being blended and encapsulated in vegetable cellulose.
The Veggies Blend contains broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, cabbage, cayenne pepper, celery stalk, garlic, kale, onion, shiitake mushroom, soybean, spinach, wheatgrass, yam and zucchini.
The Fruits Blend contains aloe vera, apple, banana, blueberry, cranberry, cherry, grape, grapefruit, lemon, mango, orange, pineapple, papaya, raspberry, strawberry and tomato.
Where Are Balance of Nature’s Ingredients Sourced?
There is no published information as to where the Balance of Nature company sources its produce from. It’s common practice for supplement companies to source their ingredients from many different countries. Until stated otherwise, this is likely to be the case with the Fruits & Veggies product.
Some people ask, are Balance of Nature’s ingredients from China? During my research, I found no evidence that Fruits & Veggies is made from Chinese produce. However, I also couldn’t find any proof that it wasn’t.
It would be helpful if the company made a clear statement as to where their ingredients are sourced from. Simply Nature’s Promise reviewed here is a cheaper replacement that clearly states on their website that all their ingredients are grown in the USA.
Is Balance of Nature Sold in Stores and Available Locally?
Balance of Nature started out selling Fruits & Veggies just from their website way back in 1997. More recently they offering it on Amazon and Walmart online stores. Can you find this product in retail stores though?
Is Balance of Nature at Costco?
No, Costco does not sell Balance of Nature. They do stock the highly regarded Codeage brand though and their Amen Fruits + Veggies capsules are a superior replacement for less than half the price.
This would be the best Balance of Nature alternative at Costco. It’s also significantly less here on their website using the code SUPERFOOD10 with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Do Walmart Retail Stores Have Balance of Nature?
Some people ask if Fruits & Veggies is available at Walmart retail stores rather than online. I’ve never seen it at a physical Walmart store, nor read reports of anyone seeing it for sale there.
A good value Balance of Nature Walmart alternative is UpNourish Daily Fruit and Veggie. This brand is much cheaper, uses organic produce from American farms, and comes with 480 capsules versus 180 for Balance of Nature.
While you can often find UpNourish at Walmart stores, it’s much less with the code SUPERFOOD here on their business site.
Does CVS Sell Balance of Nature Products?
No, CVS doesn’t stock Balance of Nature products. They have a fairly limited range of fruit and vegetable supplements but do stock Nature’s Truth Daily Fruit & Veggies+. This budget organic alternative is also available here at iHerb for much less than CVS with free shipping.
Does GNC Have Balance of Nature?
GNC has never stocked Balance of Nature. They do have an equivalent product though with Codeage Instantfood Fast Fruits & Easy Veggies.
This supplement has the same ingredients (minus the soybean), and same 180 whole food capsules as Fruits & Veggies. Yet it’s around half the cost using the code SUPERFOOD10 here on the company’s site and cheaper than at gnc.com.
Is Balance of Nature Available at Target?
Target stores do not stock the Fruits & Veggies supplement. They do carry the FeelGood Superfoods brand though. I’ve covered their Vita Fruits + Veggies and 11 other alternatives here in Comparable Products to Balance of Nature.
Is Balance of Nature Sold at Walgreens?
No, Walgreens does not sell Balance of Nature. Looking through their small range of fruit and veggie supplements the only Walgreens alternative worth taking would be Juicefestiv compared here with JuicePlus.
Does Vitamin World, Kroger, The Vitamin Shoppe or Sam’s Club have Balance of Nature?
Retail shops and outlets like Kroger, The Vitamin Shoppe, Sam’s Club or Vitamin World do not sell the Fruits & Veggies product. And given the recent FDA ruling against Balance of Nature, it’s unlikely that local stores like these will start any time soon.
Online supplement sites usually have a far bigger range and are much cheaper than traditional retail stores. If you are looking for a good fruit and vegetable replacement there are 12 Balance of Nature substitutes and similar competitors here. 
Where is Fruits & Veggies byBalance of Nature Manufactured?
All Balance of Nature products are made in the USA and manufactured at their facility located at St. George in Utah. Regardless of where their ingredients are sourced, these supplements are not made in China.
On its website the company states, “All of our products are manufactured under stringent Good Manufacturing Practices to ensure product safety and freshness.” Though, as you’ll see later in this article, the FDA brought a lawsuit against the company on this very point.
Balance of Nature’s products ship from Utah as well and they only deliver within the USA and to Canada. You cannot order these supplements and have them delivered internationally from balanceofnature.com.
Who Owns Balance of Nature and Who Founded the Company?
In 2024, Balance of Nature’s parent company is known as Evig LLC. Its associated manufacturing company is called Premium Production LLC.
The current CEO is Lex Howard, the son of Dr. Douglas Howard who is the founder, inventor and creator of Balance of Nature Fruits & Veggies.
It’s often asked if Fox News owns Balance of Nature. This is likely due to the company’s heavy advertising on the Fox News channel. However, I could find no evidence to suggest any business relationship with Fox News Media beyond advertising.
Who is Dr. Douglas Howard?
Some potential customers question Dr. Douglas Howard’s medical credentials and history. Certain critics have even called him a quack or fraud.
According to Balance of Nature’s social media account, “Dr. Howard earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Cleveland Chiropractic… He was invited to study medicine at Pavlov First Medical Institute in Saint Petersburg, Russia.”
The account goes on, “Dr. Howard became Dean of Foreign Student Affairs and finished his medical degree. Dr. Howard has never practiced in the medical field and has never claimed to. He is a scientist who has done extensive research and studies on nutrition.”
Personally, I think people who insist Dr. Howard must practice medicine to have any expertise don’t understand how little nutritional training doctors get. In the USA, the average medical student spends less than 20 hours in all their years of study learning about nutrition.
Being a practicing GP doesn’t automatically make you a nutrition expert. The physicians, or chiropractors, who are experts have put the time in and studied it themselves. Given this, it’s unfair to label Dr. Douglas Howard a fraud or a quack in my opinion.
Is Balance of Nature FDA-Approved?
No, Balance of Nature products are not FDA-approved. Legally, the United States Food and Drug Administration does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness. Nor does it approve their labeling, before they are sold to the public.
Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1994, it’s the responsibility of supplement companies to ensure their products meet the safety standards set out by the FDA and are not in violation of any laws.
Balance of Nature FDA Warnings and Lawsuits
Balance of Nature has run into legal trouble with the FDA at least twice that has been made public. The first was in 2019 and the second controversy was more recently in 2023.
2019 FDA Warning Letter
In August 2019, the FDA sent a letter to Balance of Nature accusing them of selling “adulterated” dietary supplements. According to the FDA, the company’s products were not made to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) standards.
The FDA warning letter also related to consumer complaints about their product and stated, “You failed to establish and follow written procedures to fulfill the requirements related to product complaints.”
Additionally, the FDA described Balance of Nature Fruits & Veggies as “misbranded” due to the descriptions given to certain fruits and vegetables on the supplement facts label.
2023 Complaints and Court Cases History
California Ruling
In July 2023, Balance of Nature’s parent company, Evig LLC, settled a complaint filed by the California Food, Drug and Medical Device Task Force for $1.1 million.
The California District Attorney said this business, “made dubious claims that their products could treat or cure serious diseases placing the public’s health in danger.”
They also alleged that the company charged customers illegally, through automatic subscriptions that weren’t adequately disclosed and were difficult to cancel. I’ve covered this issue before in Balance of Nature complaints.
FDA Orders Balance of Nature to Stop Selling Their Supplements
On November 16, 2023, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration news release stated that a federal court had ordered Balance of Nature to stop producing and selling its products until it demonstrated compliance with FDA regulations.
The lawsuit ruling was made against Evig LLC, the company that owns Balance of Nature. As well as Premium Production LLC, the manufacturing company that produces the Fruits & Veggies and Fiber & Spice products.
The FDA press release said the company, “violated current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements, which rendered its products adulterated dietary supplements.” It went on to state, “The FDA has not approved Balance of Nature products for any use, despite the company’s claims that its products could be used to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent diseases.”
Despite the November 16, 2023 FDA press release, Balance of Nature sent out its own news release on November 21, 2023. In it they announced, “normal operations and shipping timelines” and basically said they were back in business and not banned.
CEO Lex Howard said, “I’m pleased to share that we are in full operation… Ensuring our customers receive their orders promptly is a top priority.”
According to this leaked FDA letter, it seems Balance of Nature addressed the FDA’s concerns and was able to get back to normal production, distribution and sales quite quickly. However, they were warned that they must, “maintain compliance with the Decree, the Act, and implementing regulations.”
Currently, in 2024, their Fruits & Veggies product is not banned and is available to purchase on their own site and Amazon, though Walmart currently has it as out of stock.
Is Balance of Nature a Mormon Company?
Balance of Nature was started in 1997 by Dr. Douglas Howard in St. George, Utah. In 1997, approximately 76 percent of the population in Utah was Mormon.
While Dr. Howard was born and grew up in a predominantly Mormon area, I couldn’t find any evidence in my research of him ever discussing his religious beliefs in any of his many interviews online. Nor is there any mention of Mormonism on the company’s website or his personal social media accounts.
It’s certainly possible that Balance of Nature is Mormon-owned, given that it was started and is still based in St. George, Utah. There is no direct evidence of this though since neither Dr. Howard, the founder, nor Lex Howard, his son and CEO, have even mentioned being associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Is Balance of Nature Involved in Scientology?
There are several statements online, predominantly on business review websites like Indeed.com, as well as Reddit, of Scientology training at the Balance of Nature workplace from people claiming to be employees.
There are also photos of signs for a Hubbard College of Administration at the company’s St. George headquarters. These were posted on Reddit by someone who said they were an employee.
Hubbard College of Administration provides courses on management and administration methods developed by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology.
The company itself has stated in one online reply to someone claiming to be an ex-employee that, “We have many successful team members that take advantage of the educational benefit we offer through Hubbard College.” They followed this statement up with, “Balance of Nature does not espouse Scientology or any other specific religion.”
What is the Customer Service Phone Number for Balance of Nature?
The correct phone number for customer service is (800) 246-8751 according to support.balanceofnature.com. Their website also shows customer service is available Monday – Saturday 8 am – 5 pm and Sunday 9 am – 12 am MDT.
What is the Balance of Nature Email and Address?
The correct email, according to their website, is info@balanceofnature.com. This email is not readily displayed on their customer support pages as the company uses live chat and a support ticket system.
Customers with complaints or concerns can also send a letter to Balance of Nature’s business address: 1568 South River Road, St. George, UT 84790.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Balance of Nature products third-party tested?
This company’s website states, “We have very stringent standards, and we test all of the products we get for color, smell, and taste.” However, they have provided no public evidence of third-party testing.
Is Balance of Nature made in a CGMP facility?
A 2023 FDA press release accused Premium Production LLC, the company responsible for manufacturing Balance of Nature products, of violating current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements and ordered them to shut down production. As of 2024, they are back in production.
Is Balance of Nature made in China?
No, Fiber & Spice and Fruits & Veggies by Balance of Nature are not made in China. Their products are manufactured in St. George, Utah in the United States.
Is Balance of Nature available in stores?
Fruits & Veggies by Balance of Nature is not sold in retail stores, though Walmart has previously sold it via its online store. It is also available on Amazon and the company’s own website.
Who invented Balance of Nature?
Dr. Douglas Howard is the inventor of Balance of Nature. He formulated Fruits & Veggies in 1997 from 31 different freeze-dried fruits and vegetables.
Are Balance of Nature’s ingredients from China?
There is no evidence that the ingredients in Balance of Nature are from China. However, there aren’t any statements from the company that they only use USA-grown produce. Therefore they could source their ingredients from many different countries, including China.
How much does Balance of Nature cost at Walmart?
When Fruits & Veggies was sold on Walmart the retail cost was $89.95. However, it has been out of stock on the Walmart website since the FDA’s lawsuit.
How long has Balance of Nature been in business?
The company began in 1997. It was started by Dr. Douglas Howard and has been in business for 27 years as of 2024.
Is Balance of Nature owned by Fox?
No, Fox Corporation does not own Balance of Nature, they just advertise heavily on their channels, particularly Fox News.
Does GNC sell Balance of Nature?
No, GNC does not stock Fruits & Veggies capsules by Balance of Nature. They do have the Codeage brand though, which makes Instantfood, a high-quality competitor I’ve reviewed here along with 11 other similar substitutes.
What company owns Balance of Nature?
The official parent company of Balance of Nature is Evig LLC. The CEO is Lex Howard, who is the son of Dr. Douglas Howard, the founder and inventor of Fruits & Veggies.
Is Balance of Nature a MLM?
No, this company is not a multi-level marketing business. While Balance of Nature does offer a paid ‘preferred customer’ membership for an ongoing discount on their products, this option doesn’t fit the definition of an MLM company.
Does CVS sell Balance of Nature?
No, Balance of Nature is not sold on CVS. A budget organic alternative that is sold on CVS is Nature’s Truth Daily Fruit & Veggies+. While you can get it there it’s significantly less here on iHerb.
What is the 2023 FDA Balance of Nature warning about?
In November 2023, the FDA banned the Balance of Nature company from selling and manufacturing its products until it came into compliance with FDA regulations. There was no order to recall supplements that had already been sold. The ban was temporary and the company stated that it was shipping and distributing its products again on November 21, 2023.
Where did Dr. Douglas Howard get his medical degree?
According to Balance of Nature, Dr. Howard received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Cleveland Chiropractic. He also finished his medical degree at Pavlov First Medical Institute in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Where can you get Balance of Nature locally?
This product is not sold locally at retail stores like Walmart, Costco, Walgreens, Target, GNC or CVS. The only place to get it is at Amazon or balanceofnature.com.
Is Balance of Nature Mormon-owned?
There is no direct evidence of the owners of Balance of Nature being Mormon. However, the company was established and is still based in St. George, Utah where the predominant religion is Mormonism.
Is Balance of Nature banned in 2024?
No, Balance of Nature is still selling its Fruits & Veggies, Fiber & Spice and Whole Health System products on their website in 2024.
What’s the Balance of Nature phone number?
(800) 246-8751 is the customer service phone number for Balance of Nature according to support.balanceofnature.com.
Where is Balance of Nature made?
Balance of Nature is made in the USA and manufactured at their facility located at 785 E. Venture Drive, St. George, Utah. Premium Production LLC is the name of the associated company that makes Fruits & Veggies, Fiber & Spice and The Whole Health System.
Does Costco have Balance of Nature?
No, Costco does not sell Balance of Nature and they have a fairly limited number of whole food supplements. You can find far more options here in 12 comparable products and cheaper alternatives.
When was the Balance of Nature company founded?
Balance of Nature was founded in 1997 by Dr. Douglas Howard. He created the Fruits & Veggies product and started the company in St. George, Utah. It is still based there 27 years later as of 2024.
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