Scam Tactics: Knowing the Differences among FDA Registered, FDA Certified, and FDA Approved

Recently, someone posted the following comment on BehindMLM

"Davie Watkins" claimed on 6-OCT-2017 that "FDA approved
Vida Divina's Coffee Line in October 2017"

Let's first examine, what did "Vida Divina" reps say about FDA? If you Google, you may find:

The search results says "FDA certified", or "FDA Approved". But what is the truth?

None of the actual results link to FDA, it's just announcements, and they can't even agree on the language. Some say "certified", some say "approved". What is the truth? As it turns out, it was NEITHER.

The Woo Files: MLM Viagra Coffee (no, I'm not kidding, and it's illegal)

There are all sorts of "fortified" coffee, containing all sorts of stuff that's allegedly good for you, from Asian mushrooms (Lingzhi) to various uber(woo) fruits like Acai berries, goji berries, to various forms of vitamins. So it's really no surprise when someone made coffee with allegedly "all natural herbs" to raise your libido, eh? 

Meet "Magic Power Coffee", world's first (and last?) aphrodisiac coffee.

Now, you may say, this is cute and stuff, but what does it have to do with MLM? Ah, but look at the words "income opportunity". Yes, this is a MLM.

Quoting from a recruitment website :

Start Your Magic Power Home Business Today Start as a Standard Associate for only $70.00 plus a one time $15.00 administration fee. Quickly break even, operate for FREE, and build your Home Based Business part time until it exceeds your primary income source

Furthermore:

The Magic Power Coffee Home Business Opportunity provides multiple income streams. They are covered below.

Personal Enrollments:
Each time a member joins the home business opportunity via your invitation you are awarded $15.00 to $45.00 depending upon their membership level... To keep it simple and free, enroll three.

Matrix:
When you introduce and invite others to become members they too establish their own Home Business. You are accredited through a 3 X 10 matrix system for those who fall within the three positions below you. ...

Matching Bonuses:
Matrix Bonuses are percentage matched down 6 generations of each individually sponsored member

Retail Sales:
Retail sales of Magic Power Coffee and the Magic Power Product line generate commissions...

Leadership Pool:
3% of the entire company product are sales set aside and distributed proportionately as you reach certain milestones. The Tour will explain this best, but the award amounts are substantial.

Thus, there is no doubt this is MLM, right? Except the product is ILLEGAL, as it is NOT all natural, as it claimed.

Stop Believing Bull****; Follow This Guide! (Bonus "Food Babe" debunking)

The following guide was found on io9 via The Last Word on Nothing.

It is easy to stop believing in bull****. After all, bull**** doesn't spread by itself. Someone have to believe the bull**** to pass it on. I've slightly reworded the original

0. Assuming anything any one told you is bull**** unless disproven (by following)
1. Who is telling me "this"?
2. How does s/he know "this"?
3. Given #1 and #2, could s/he be wrong?
4. If yes, maybe, or "I dunno", find UNRELATED source that says the same thing, then apply the SAME TEST  (Go to 1)
5. If you got here, answer to 3 must be "pretty f***ing unlikely". 

Congratulations. You now have something that may not be bull****.

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Remember: just because someone says something that "makes sense" doesn't mean it's true.

Let us take a recent example... Vani Hari, i.e. "Food Babe" rant about some chemical that she claims was used to make yoga mats. That's NOT TRUE. The chemical, which makes harmless bubbles, *can also be used* to make yoga matts, which is bubble foam. She knows nothing about science or food safety. She's selling her looks (calling herself "Food Babe", eh) and trying to parlay her followers into spreading misinformation. That is just plain STUPID.

Let's apply the test... Should you believe Food Babe's warning about azodicarbonimide in Subway's sandwich bread?