Black Oxygen Organics
| Company type | Multi-level marketing |
|---|---|
| Industry | Health products |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Marc Saint-Onge |
| Fate | Shut down in November 2021 amid class action lawsuit threat |
| Headquarters | Canada |
Key people | Carlo Garibaldi (President), Ron Montaruli (Vice President, Business Development) |
| Products | Fulvic acid tablets and powders |
Black Oxygen Organics was a Canadian-based multi-level marketing (MLM) enterprise that retailed dirt products at roughly per package, targeting consumers across Canada and the United States.
History
The company originated in 2015 under the name NuWTR, established by Marc Saint-Onge, an evangelical Christian and conspiracy theorist from Casselman, Ontario. The business had been involved in distributing mud-related products since the 1990s. Leadership roles included Carlo Garibaldi as President and Ron Montaruli as vice president overseeing business development.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company experienced rapid expansion driven by increased interest in alternative medicine, partly due to misinformation linked to the pandemic. In November 2021, just before American Thanksgiving, Black Oxygen Organics announced its shutdown amid the threat of a pending class action lawsuit.
Product
The firm promoted its offering as fulvic acid, recommending consumption methods such as dissolving it in water, using it for bathing, or applying it as a facial mask. It asserted multiple health advantages, many of which were refuted by scientific experts monitoring MLM claims. The product gained traction on social media platforms under the hashtag #BOO.
In September 2021, Health Canada issued a recall for Black Oxygen Organics’ tablets and powders due to potential safety concerns and unauthorized health claims. From July to October 2021, the Better Business Bureau logged sixteen grievances primarily related to refund issues and poor customer service.
A class action suit initiated by residents of Georgia in November 2021 accused the product of containing hazardous heavy metals, notably elevated concentrations of lead and arsenic, findings supported by laboratory analyses at recommended usage levels. Subsequently, in December 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration warned consumers against using Black Oxygen Organics’ powders and tablets after detecting these contaminants at the Canada–United States border.