If you’re wondering the history of Organo Gold Company, you may have already discovered that they’re primarily the manufacturers of a coffee product that is largely sold by a network of sellers around the globe. What you need to understand about Organo Gold is that it’s largely an MLM company that engages in direct sales.

What Is Organo Gold?

Today, the family of Organo products is large, befitting the fact that it’s sold in over 50 countries on five continents. When the company first launched, though, it was pitched as a coffee product that used ancient Chinese herbal medicine (Ganoderma lucidum, from the Reishi mushroom) with organic coffee to facilitate better health.

Some products in their lines now include skincare, nutritional shakes, a line of tea products and, of course, the tried-and-true line of coffee that their empire was built upon. The Organo Café Latte is particularly popular.

Where Is Organo Gold From?

The company is currently registered in Richmond, Canada, just outside of Vancouver. The face of the company is Bernardo Chua, a Philippino businessman who relocated to Canada and began Organo Gold with cofounder Shane Morand as a home business in 2008. The company took off quickly and, despite its international stature, it remains privately held. Media interviews with Morand and/or Chua are difficult to find online.

It’s also difficult to find information on the company from a legal point of view. There are conflicting reports as to whether the company dissolved some of its holdings for legal or reputational reasons.

Controversies Around Organo Gold

There is a sealed verdict in a lawsuit going back to 2016, in which Organo Gold was sued by Marlin Johnson, alleging that Organo Gold coffee's Ganoderma lucidum caused “platelet dysfunction and bleeding which led to his postoperative complications” after having gastric bypass surgery.

This is the biggest of controversies with the company because it all comes down to the company's very non-specific claims of improved health if consumers use the supplement-enhanced coffee. According to the brand, Ganoderma lucidum is a "powerful antioxidant" with "immune benefits". By keeping claims non-specific, the company is inoculated against many lawsuits.

Ganoderma and Reishi mushrooms are understudied, but some preliminary findings suggest it thins blood – particularly when consumed in powdered form for over one month at a time, as one would do with Organo Gold. Evidence suggests it may be tied to bleeding disorders and it is recommended that people refrain from using Reishi mushroom or Ganoderma within two weeks of surgery.

Average Earnings of Distributors

It costs a minimum of $49.95 to start selling Organo Gold, though many fledgling distributors get started with the $150 kit. Many do so after seeing that the product sells in so many countries around the world. However, according to the company’s own disclosure statement, 88% of the world’s distributors earn under $599 per year.

Of the 12% who earn over $600 in commissions annually, 34% earn under $1,000 and 30% earn under $2,000. In fact, just 11.58% of these “sales leaders” earn over $8,000 annually.

The Takeaway

When the findings are slim on the internet, it’s best to be hesitant about investing in companies. As far as the Organo Gold products go, people seem to like them. Some claim they’re tasty and provide more than just an energy boost. However, anecdotal evidence seems to suggest consuming the whole Reishi mushroom in its natural state may be safer for long-term consumption than the processed and powdered form used in Organo Gold beverages is.

With plenty of MLM opportunities available today, it may be wise to avoid any that have potentially adverse health effects.