Weighty allegations against firm

Note to businesses: Having customers sign a gag order to not complain about products in online forums is probably a bad idea — if not illegal.

This should-be obvious business advice comes from a complaint the Federal Trade Commission filed Sept. 24 against Sarasota-based weight-loss supplement Roca Labs. The company, contends the FTC, has sold at least $20 million worth of a supposed weight loss powder since 2010.

“Roca Labs had an adversarial relationship with the truth,” says Jessica Rich, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a statement. “Not only did they make false or unsubstantiated weight-loss claims, they also attempted to intimidate their own customers from sharing truthful — and truly negative — reviews of their products.”