Thursday, January 3, 2013

Is Organo Gold Healthier Coffee, or Just Brewing Trouble?

Editor's note: You should also read a different take on this same subject: "What They Don't Want You To Know about Fortified Coffee"

A recent trend in 2012 is startup of several Coffee-related MLMs. One of which is Organo Gold, which is coffee infused with extract from Lingzhi, i.e. "reishi mushroom", or the Latin name "Gandorama Lucidem".

But is it a real business, or mainly an illusion? For that, let us first study the item in question... Is Reishi mushroom good for you, and how much do you need to take for gaining that effect?

First question first... Does Reishi do anything? Here's the text:

Reishi is currently regulated in the United States as a dietary supplement. It is also included in the 2,000 Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China as an agent approved for the treatment of dizziness, insomnia, palpitations, shortness of breath, cough, and asthma. At this time, high quality clinical trials supporting the use of reishi mushroom are lacking. More proven therapies are recommended at this time.

Well, I guess it wouldn't really hurt you, but it's not going to suddenly cure your diabetes or heart disease and such. And I sincerely hope that none of Organo Gold's sellers are bull**** artists, as that may get them AND the company in trouble. However, some people have clearly gotten the wrong message, as there are documented cases where people who drank the coffee have stopped taking meds.

Maria Luisa Gonzalez said she's been feeling much better. The 64-year-old spent more than $100 for two boxes of Organo Gold. She also stopped taking her doctor-prescribed medication.
http://www.krgv.com/news/coming-up-tonight-trouble-brewing-investigation/

That is a VERY VERY bad idea.

How much are you supposed to take? From Healthline.com link above:

Dosing
Adults (over 18 years old)
2-6 grams per day of reishi as raw fungus or an equivalent dosage of concentrated extract has been taken with meals. In clinical trials studying cancer, chronic hepatitis B, coronary heart disease, or diabetes, doses of 600-1,800 milligrams have been taken three times daily. For high blood pressure, Linzhi extract (reishi) has been used in doses of 55 milligrams a day for four weeks. For pain management inherpes zoster, 36-72 grams of dry weight per day for up to 10 days have been studied. Other doses used are 500-1,125 milligrams per day for the treatment of proteinuria (excess protein in the urine) or 100 grams of reishi boiled in 600 milliliters water per dose for poisoning.

In the KRGV query, one pharmacist came up with 1200 mg as recommended daily dose.

Now how much do you get per cup of coffee from Organo Gold?


Good question. It's NOT LISTED ANYWHERE, not even on the company website, or not the boxes or sachet bags.

In one video interview (see KRGV TV special above), one rep gave the figure as 2.5 mg. That clearly can't be true. That'd be so minute it'd be consider "pixie dusting".

On the marketing forum for OG called OG university, one guy claimed to have the answer as 250 mg, and this information supposedly from "Shayne Morand"


Who is Shayne Morand? Seems he is indeed corporate.


In fact, he's co-founder, according to some articles and news. So I guess he would know what he's talking about.

Which only begs the question: WHY IS THIS INFORMATION NOT EASILY FOUND!?!?!?!

And where did this guy supposedly got it? Or was he just name-dropping? This is HEARSAY. It's better than nothing, but it's NOT DIRECTLY SOURCED!

Let leave that aside for now. You need... 5 cups of OG coffee to get that much... assuming SM's numbers are correct.

Do you drink 5 cups per day? I know some do, but do you?

Each "box" has 30 sachets, and sells for between $20 and $30 (easily found online, even on Amazon and eBay). So let's just say... $1 per satchet.

Starbucks coffee are at least tolerable to actually decent. And Starbucks VIA comes out to be about $1 per satchet. And you can GUARANTEE this coffee can't be any better (and probably MUCH WORSE) than Starbucks VIA instant coffee.

So are you buying reishi / lingzhi / ganoderma doses mixed with lousy coffee?

Daily cost... 5 cups, call it $5

Maybe you should just buy the capsules instead.

From Organo Gold themselves... 90 capsules for $30-40 ($40 price found on eBay)



Consider that makes daily cost less than half of what it cost in coffee form, and the coffee is lousy instant coffee, clearly coffee form is bogus.

"Change your coffee, change your life."

What utter bull****.


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48 comments:

  1. Good article. I spoke to a doctor and he was also having fun of what representatives of OG claim their product can do. Their main goal is to recruit, right now their selling coffee but it could have been any other product.

    ReplyDelete
  2. For 35 usd you can buy 500 grams of reishi on ebay, you use about 3 gram per cup. That makes it $0,21 per cup.
    I put it in a water cooker and after cooking I leave it for a few hours and then heat it again to mix with cocoa powder or you could dump that in your coffee water reservoir...
    Personally I just leave all the remaining reishi in my watercooker and keep using it as I add 3 grams per day.

    Greetings from The Netherlands.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Drinking Organo Gold before meals does not make you feel has hungry.
    Organo Gold

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doesn't that apply to ALL liquids before meal though? Even plain water?

      http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/23/drink.water.lose.weight/index.html

      Delete
  4. Lol I enjoyed this article and yes I am with Organo Gold. Look if you didn't like the coffee that's your personal opinion but to act as if your opinion is truth please let's stop the nonsense. I'll tell you off the back that yes the coffee is delicious and the folks around me such as friends and family love the coffee as well. What people usually like that it is instant and actually tastes good. Your running your thoughts as if the same can't be said about so many products in the market. I did my research before I got in the company and the fact that it has a simple ingredient such as ganoderma makes it awesome because this coffee isn't going to save lives but atleast it's healthier then what you would buy from Maxwell, Folgers, and ect. If your crying about price then hey how many folks would rather buy Kraft cheese at $4 for 25 slices then the cheap generic cheese for $2 for 25 slices because Kraft cheese just tastes better. See in the end while your coming up with these blogs thinking your helping people and yes there will be people gullable to follow your words your failing to realize 1 thing. No matter what people are going to want coffee and people are going to want to make money. If direct sales isn't your things then say that but stop whining it makes you look horrible. Organo Gold will continue on and you'll still have a blog with no income coming from it. Who's the real loser?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you really think gandorama infused coffee is delicious, you clearly have roasted tastebuds and haven't tasted proper fresh coffee.

      You don't even know what gandorama tastes like, do you?

      The only rebuttal you have is anecdotal evidence "MY family and friends say they're great".

      Yet you choose to pile on insults like "stop whining".

      Sounds like it's you who's whining about other people's hypothesis, backed up with supporting facts. Then you had to be an insulting pr*** too.

      Delete
    2. Well said AJ. The world is filled with doubters. I'm not saying to fall for every pitch out there. Do your homework. However, what a great idea, to incorporate a supplement or health benefit into a product that is used daily without thought. I drink coffee every day. I'm still learning about ganoderma. But if it is of benefit, $1 per cup is cheaper than McDonalds or any convenience store coffee out there. So whats the problem? It sounds like a good idea to me, especially the kcups. Now regarding k cups, I can get them alot cheaper than $1 per cup. But again, weigh out the benefit. If you see results, then go with it, if not, go back to normal operations. People are so scared of being tricked. Its amusing to me. Its alot easier to say something doesnt work than to try it out and see if it really does.
      Keep it up AJ, I'm with you on this one

      Delete
    3. It's not a bargain when you get unknown concentration of an herb, only reputed to be good, has no proof that it has no interaction with coffee, and unknown quality of coffee.

      Fortified coffee is the latest trendy woo to sell bad coffee to people with no tastebud who want to pay $$$ to feel better. If it does make you feel better, great. But it's definitely NOT for everybody. If you have money to boil, go right ahead.

      Delete
    4. You first. Nobody mentioned **** until you did.

      Delete
    5. To get any possible benefit from organo gold coffee you need to consume 5 or more cups a day provide more like 10 in order to justify the hefty price tag you have to insinuate and mislead people discretely. If you can sleep at night knowing you duped people into paying g a premium for average instant coffee by insinuating unsubstantiated health benefits then yes it can make you money.

      Delete
  5. Organo Coffee Company Inc is a global distributor of the entire Ganoderma Lucidum product line for Organo Gold International
    Organo Coffee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is that legal, using the name of Organo Gold like that? Implying you're kinda official?

      Delete
  6. Hei,the article is really helpful.i started to drink this coffe 2 weeks ago and i can sleep better and have a lot of energy during the day.the taste is indeed not so extraordinary as they say but i m drinking it for my health and not for the taste.question: they say that the ganoderma in the coffe it s 100% bio.how can i know that?thank s a lot

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I hope you mean you drink it in the morning? Surely drinking it at night makes no sense...

      100% bio? You mean organic? You don't. Gandorama is out of wilderness of China or Tibet or whatever. God knows who certifies that ****.

      What is the recommended daily dosage any way? :) Do you drink 5 cups?

      Delete
  7. Yes, i ment organic.sorry English is my second language.well, i drink 1 or 2 a day and i want to continue drinking but i really wanna be sure it s not harmfull to me.these days i asked a og rep the same question that i asked you before and he replied that the coffee has the gmp,halal,kosher and more other certificates.can these certificates grantee me that the ganoderma inside the coffee is organic?Thanks again

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. English is my second language as well. I doubt it would be harmful to you if you take it in moderate doses.

      I am pretty sure none of those labels are considered to be equivalent to USDA Organic label.

      Delete
  8. Lets not even talk about Organo Gold. You shouldnt be judgemental about mlm just because you dont make money from it. Like any business, you still need to put effort on your end. By the way, 90% of conventional businesses fails after 5 years. Why nobody is skeptical towards opening conventional business? If it didnt work out for you but well for others, it only means one thing. Either you are not doing it right or you are lazy, choose one crtical thinker.... :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you're not talking about Organo Gold, then you're trying to derail the subject.

      As for 90% of all businesses fail (not conventional business, all businesses) that's a myth. Survey of IRS records from 1992 to 1996 shows 72% of business are running and paying taxes.

      Source: http://money.howstuffworks.com/10-problems-for-new-businesses.htm

      You're clearly not thinking critically as you did not verify the "fact" you're trying to cite.

      Delete
  9. This is pathetic article written by pathetic minded person. I spoke with Holten Buggs (#1 MLM income earner) on the phone btw. Yes Organo Gold products are instant coffees. I never liked the idea of drinking instant coffee b/c its not healthy for you.
    Before OG coffees I drank Starbucks iced coffee venti size every single day. I always had jittery feeling and stomach ache after drinking it. Its been about 3 days since I've been only drinking OG coffees and I never had stomach ache.

    I'm 21 year old college student. Right now I just finished studying for finals and I had no crash, no stomach ache, no dizziness, no jittery feeling. Oh yeah I still feel focused and its 5:23 AM!!!!
    I liked the taste of Latte, Mocha, and Hot chocolate. I also save about 2-3 bucks every cup of coffee that I drink whenever I want. So from a college student's point of view OG helped me boost my health, focus, and save money even though I don't go out tryna recruit people and shit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You call my article pathetic, yet the ONLY evidence you have is your own experience?

      You know what they call sample size of one?

      Noise.

      Delete
    2. Please watch your language. Or your next insult is going into the spam bin.

      Delete
    3. One experience may not be a huge sample size, but a collection of them is more promising than simple numbers. The fact is that a huge majority of OG users are literally 'changing their lives' for the better. You can't really argue with that. The level of focus, lack of jitters, and improved calmness is enough to win customers over.

      Delete
    4. You seem to be talking out both sides of your mouth. In one sentence you said "our experience may not be a huge sample size", then a sentence later you say "huge majority of OG users..." Seems you're just randomly stringing together sentences that don't fit together.

      Delete
  10. Dude, this makes me wonder...

    How many Xanthones does Xango Juice has?

    I read somewhere that traditional Xango was banned in Germany due to false advertising. i.e. it had no xhanthones at all! That's why they only sell Xango Reserva over there.

    Got any intel in that situation? It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to find that out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You may have to raise funds to send a bottle of the stuff to a real lab that knows how to measure xantones. In fact, send it to two separate labs in different provinces.

      That's what Waiora skeptics did when they sent Waiora's NCD to two separate labs, and found Waiora is putting only 7% or so of "zeolite" that they claim was in every bottle.

      http://amlmskeptic.blogspot.com/2013/05/hilarious-when-even-woo-is-bad-woo.html

      Delete
  11. Lol.... You people are hilarious. Organo Gold makes coffee beverages, like any other company that makes coffee, some will love it and some will hate it. If you don't like it, don't drink it, but millions like it so they drink it..... It's quite as simple as that. Fortified coffee is the new rage, it's called marketing. Writing a two bit blog about it and hating on a company because they choose to market their product through mlm just shows you are stuck in the 20th century. In case you haven't noticed, many traditional companies are embracing mlm concepts and principles now...... Organo Gold is a company selling a product. Wonder if you will start hating on Starbucks when they officially announce their partnership with Amway....lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hilarious yourself, kid. Fortified coffee is the latest trendy woo to sell bad coffee to people with no tastebud who want to pay $$$ to feel better. I don't hate the company. I don't like the woo it sells. You can't seem to aim properly, seems you're barking up the wrong tree... on the wrong street. Maybe you should look before you bark.

      Delete
    2. Try the coffee for a year and see if it makes you feel better than acid, filled, fresh coffee. I have drank them all. You name it. OG is the only one without negative side effects. Other coffees taste great but they all provide gut rot, acid reflux and heartburn for me. OG whether you like it or not mitigates side effects.

      Delete
    3. I don't drink coffee. PERIOD.

      The question perhaps that needs to be asked... is it still real coffee? Do you get a buzz when you drink that? And how much Lingzhi do you get with that any way?

      Delete
  12. REGARDING:

    "I did my research before I got in the company and the fact that it has a simple ingredient such as ganoderma makes it awesome because this coffee isn't going to save lives but atleast it's healthier then what you would buy from Maxwell, Folgers, and ect."
    by AJ Bartolomey June 12, 2013 at 2:41 PM

    RESPONSE:

    Mr. Bartolomey if you did in fact do your research on Organo Gold Coffee then you would have noticed the fact that OG uses aliminum silicate. It also uses palm oil. The former is linked to cancer and the latter is the root cause for the destruction of the rain forest.

    Perhaps to help you with improving your research on OG I will seet doen this link that is a letter from us to Bernie Chua the CEO of Organo Gold asking him to remove any such harmful ingfredients from his products and xtop using palm oil. http://saveorangutans.net/bernie-chua-ceo-og/

    You might be interested in knowing he refused to respond back.

    Cliff'SOR
    http://www.saveorangutans.net
    https://www.facebook.com/clifylq

    ReplyDelete
  13. Its more or less strange with what some people are writing in here....life is so comfortable with people leaving in the states especially you find it difficult for a change....have heard different views eish bla etc have you seen how much coffee is been sold outside the states? You seat around and base your facts on a group of gossips....are you aware that some coffees products are far more dangerous and yet people take them and feel good coffee is meant to keep you hyperactive as the case may be but when I take same coffee I sleep like a baby.......now the is more to this blasphemy of OG products you talk about the ingredients use for OG but I'm telling you we have coffee worse than that you talk about scam so many big companies are involved in scam and spread across the globe but I'm not here to start a world war 3 cos I have lots to say about scam and our world leaders you talked about cultsim American can you remind us why JF Kennedy was killed rumors about the big boys in the states 1-10 who run various cults some people are involve in some crazy shit and don't know its a form of cult he who is without sin should cast the first stone I know the truth shall unfold OG as been for a while and we've not heard of any death case(s) but I can mention some products that sent people to there early grave down to dog foods......if you leave in the glass house you don't throw stones and if you must throws stones don't throw blows cos it might hit your love once...all the comments I read are incompetent and most tasking treachery that knows no bound......if you wanna know more about price deregulation visit Africa I'm sure when you get back you appreciate how much OG sells there products if its not working for you it will for others don't stumble into things just becos you seeing a juicy watering offer you might be digging your own grave when you are done you wanna nag at someone else.."Stop it". Like I said I will refrain cos I don't wanna stir up a world war 3..but readers know this when next I have the opportunity to vibrate again I will open your eyes to my blowing facts. Signing out CB

    ReplyDelete
  14. So, is there a point to your "blowing facts"? or are you just ranting and venting?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Only because Im Ruby Consultant, and I believe there is power in proximity, and I believe in making a difference in anyones life be it health or wealth will I choose to participate in this disoccassion! Ms. Kasey, you are obviously educated, I mean so to the point you have even dismissed the opportunity to earn a salary for your omni-presence on business evaluating, just to stay on the moralistic side of things,actually I thank you! Oh and im ranting, because Unlike you, Organo Gold has what they call Cited Recognition, Credibility, and Permission.
    You have one thing in common you have the ability to generate testimonies. Thats right, people that share your ideals, your experience your wisdom, by the way, how are you contributing. ARE YOU WELL ADMIRED...I MEAN LIKE ...ADMIRED BY MORE THAN 5 PEOPLE? Has your dialogue generated significant testimonies in 37 countries. Who has certified Ms. Kasey, who really has vested interest in your opinion, how many families have you impacted, What FOUNDATION(S) HAVE RECOGNIZED YOUR MERITS. O.G, has gone through challenges, it has, but thats what happens when you BUILD FROM SCRATCH..A WORTH WHILE IDEAL BECOMES A BUSINESS EVENTUALLY....I take offense to your rants because nobody has cited you, YOUR SKEPTICISMS ARE LOGIC ABSENT...YOUR ABILITY TO CROSS REFERENCE IS HUMOROUS, YOU NEED A RELIABLE SOURCE AND MAYBE....JUST MAYBE..... .YOU TOO COULD EXPERIENCE CREDIBILITY. ...
    I earn % 20 commissions on 53,000.00 a month, because I have learned the art of people interest not self interest...I HAVE helped multiple people generate the same success, with the most noble philosophy in any business. Your business Evaluation ability is in my opinion lacking of respect. It wont be long before one of my sachets are in your home!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't need to be well admired. Maybe you do feel the need to be sucked up to by sycophants.

      Your judgement in "reliability" is quite interesting. Do you tell CBS News the same?

      http://www.cbsnews.com/news/multi-level-coffee-marketer-organo-gold-brews-up-controversy/

      Delete
    2. Why don't you also take it up with the Italians?

      http://www.agcm.it/en/newsroom/press-releases/2136-ps7621-ps8171-ps8202-pyramid-sales-antitrust-starts-investigation-on-multi-level-illegal-sales-and-applies-sanctions-to-vemma-italia-asea-italy-and-organo-gold-europe-for-improper-commercial-practices-with-fines-equal-to-total-500000-euros.html

      Delete
  16. Some very good points were made in your article about dosage of ganoderma in Organo Gold coffee and health benefits. Much of the coffee is loaded with sugar which is not good for older Type II and pre-diabetics. This really negates the health benefits of ganoderma of which almost all studies come out of China, the primary source of reishi.
    There are some serious concerns about the business side of Organo Gold. Year over year sales growth in 2015 is actually negative per Direct Sales News http://directsellingnews.com/index.php/view/2015_dsn_global_100_list#.VkU4Ob9M18F in spite of entry into new countries such as Nigeria and Kenya.
    This year over year sales decline also suggests in established markets such as the local US cities, it is particularly troubling and may be much harder to start as a new to network marketing distributor.
    Yes there are many making some big money as distributors, however year over year sales decline suggests that attrition is exceeding enrollments.
    Organo Gold coffees are widely sold on Amazon and eBay with free shipping at prices below what distributors can buy for resale. Most of these vendors are located Asia and shipping bulk to US markets bypassing the direct sales model.
    Everyone should do their own research and not rely on those in OG for the facts on the coffee and the business. There is nothing wrong with Network marketing as a business when it is done right, OG however may have reached it potential unless they come up with new products to offer.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Don't think you understand where the ganoderma from Organo gold comes from? They are the biggest seller for it and have exclusive partnerships with some of the biggest companies who manufacture it in China. It's pure and organic ganoderma. The coffee isn't just instant either... They have brewed coffee as well and tea which is all organic then the actual spore powder from the ganoderma mushroom infused into it. Do more research before you open your mouths people

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And your proof is what exactly? Organo's own marketing material? Tsk tsk tsk.

      Delete
  18. This a great topic and I totally respect Kasey Chang not a lot of people go do the research on any Product before consuming it.I myself joined OG this year and I could say the coffee is great my point is People just comsume anything and everything that is out there look at the tabacco industry or cocaine any or any drugs legal or illegal people don't know what's inside of it and they consume because they go for a feeling not actually evaluating the ingredients. At the end is all about money with these corporations we are not safe from anything in this World

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have no problem with people liking the product... as long as they understand what went into it (and thus, into them)... and what those ingredients do (and not do).

      Delete
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  21. I have tried OG coffee. Itakes my stomach hirt. I get gas & lightheaded. I used to sell it myself in 2012. I stopped because I can't back a product that made me feel awful. Folgers coffee doesn't make me feel bad. I'm glad it worked for some of you, but it made me feel sick. It didn't happen immediately either. It took about 2 months before I felt bad. I was drinking about 2-3 cups per day. My husband said it seemed to give him more energy, but I can't help but wonder if he just had a sugar Hugh from all the flavored creamer & sugar he put in it. To each his own, but it didn't work for me.I attended a play last night & a lady had it at her concession table. I figured I'd give it a try again. The taste was okay. Soon after drunking it, my stomach grew to look as if I was 6 months pregnant & I was full of gas. I wake up today still feeling gassy & my stomachusband is upset. It is Definitely the OG coffee.

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    Replies
    1. I am gastric patient for 20 years ..once I had a sachet OG Latte ..I am ok till now ..no need to see doctor everytime I have gas problem or indigestion problem ..just take a cup a day ..should be ok..no worries

      Delete
  22. My wife looked up Ganoderma Lucidum. She has an autoimmune disorder. GL is not recommended for anyone with such disorders, among other conditions
    It is irresponsible not to warn people about any additives such as this.

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  23. That crap coffee made me so sick it's been two weeks since I stop drinking it.and IAM still sick to my stomach.

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    Replies
    1. Why is there a sticker on box stating sale in Malaysia Only

      Delete