Justice Department Prepares to Conduct Criminal Investigation of Metabolife

photo-4icTendiche Department of Justice's decision to conduct a criminal investigation of Metabolife International, Inc., will probe into the safety and efficacy of the nation's top-selling ephedra product, Metabolife 356, and put the company's business practices under a microscope.

The investigation is designed to determine if the supplement's manufacturer misappropriated facts concerning the product's safety. Shortly after news of the criminal investigation became public, Metabolife announced that it would hand over to the FDA some 13,000 consumer health complaints regarding the supplement.

According to an Aug. 15 press release from FDA Deputy Commissioner …