By Estrella Ferretti
expresa.se
Venezuelan influencer Sascha Patricia Barboza Schmidt, known as Sascha Fitness, has become embroiled in controversy in Colombia for marketing her products as dietary supplements without the appropriate health registration. The National Institute of Food and Drug Surveillance (Invima) in Colombia has issued several health alerts warning about the risks these products pose to consumer health, as they have not been evaluated for quality, safety, and efficacy.
Hydrolyzed products from the Sascha Fitness Colombia brand include proteins, collagen, vitamins, and amino acids, which promise numerous benefits for users’ physical and nutritional well-being. However, Invima has found that these products lack health registrations in the dietary supplement category, contrary to what their labels suggest. Additionally, key aspects such as their composition and conditions of storage, transportation, and distribution remain unclear.
Sascha Fitness has responded to these accusations by claiming she possesses all the necessary Invima permits and registrations for her products’ commercialization in Colombia. She argues that the irregularities may stem from black market activities or product plagiarism and asserts that the legal importation of her products through her official distributor complies with regulations. She has also mentioned that changes have been made to the product labeling in accordance with food categories.
Nevertheless, Invima has reiterated its position, stating that it will continue to collaborate with local health authorities to investigate and take necessary measures if any risks to public health are identified. The agency has also advised the public to refrain from purchasing products from this brand and to immediately cease use if they are currently consuming them.
The controversy has also affected the influencer’s family, who are being questioned about the origin of the funds they manage. Reports indicate that Sascha Fitness’s father-in-law and husband are associated with a company accused of corruption and overpricing during the construction of stadiums for the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela. It has also come to light that they have shares in other companies registered in tax havens and the United States.
Sascha Fitness is a recognized content creator with over five million Instagram followers and more than a million on Twitter. She promotes a healthy lifestyle centered on exercise and balanced nutrition and has authored several books on nutrition and fitness. Her personal brand has expanded to various Latin American countries, where she markets her products.
The BCAA products from Sascha Fitness, according to distributors, are dietary supplements containing branched-chain amino acids essential for protein synthesis and muscle metabolism. These products come in powdered form with various natural flavors, such as lime, mango coconut, pineapple, piña colada, watermelon, and grape. They are consumed by dissolving in water before, during, or after physical training.
These products are marketed as sources of energy, recovery, and muscle protection. According to Sascha Fitness Colombia’s official website, the products offer benefits such as preventing muscle catabolism, enhancing endurance and physical performance, aiding fat burning, and stimulating protein synthesis. It is also claimed that the products contain digestive enzymes that help improve digestion and prevent stomach discomfort.
However, Invima has found that these products lack the health registrations that validate them as dietary supplements. This means they have not undergone the quality and safety controls required by Colombian regulations for such products. Furthermore, Invima has pointed out that the actual composition of these products is unknown and whether they contain ingredients that may cause adverse effects or interactions with other medications.
For this reason, Invima has issued a specific health alert regarding Sascha Fitness’s BCAA products and has warned the public about the fraudulent marketing of these items. Invima has also urged retailers to abstain from distributing and selling these illegal products, as their sale may lead to the enforcement of health safety measures. The agency advises consumers to always verify the health registration and authenticity of the products they purchase.
Controversial Family
Waldo Enrique Ordoñez Matheus
Waldo Enrique Ordoñez Matheus, the father-in-law of Sascha Barboza Schmidt, owns Pavimentadora Onica S.A., a company involved in civil construction in Venezuela. The company has been accused of corruption and price gouging in the construction of stadiums for the 2007 Copa América, particularly for the Estadio Metropolitano in Mérida. As a result of this case, a travel ban was imposed on Ordoñez Matheus on May 4, 2022, along with the then-president of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee, Eduardo Esteban Álvarez Camacho, who was his government partner at that time. Their son, Andrés Eduardo Ordoñez Matos, who is Sascha Barboza’s husband, is also a shareholder in Pavimentadora Onica S.A.
Andrés Eduardo Ordoñez Matos holds a degree in administration and international commerce and is involved in business activities related to his wife’s personal brand. Together with her, he has shares in several companies registered in tax havens and in the U.S., such as ThirtyFitness Investments LTD and NutriCorp LLC. Authorities in Colombia suspect these companies may be linked to funds originating from Venezuelan corruption.
ThirtyFitness Investments LTD is a company registered in Barbados, a tax haven known for its opacity and low taxation. This company surfaced in the Offshore Leaks, a document leak revealing the existence of thousands of companies and individuals using such jurisdictions to hide their assets and evade taxes. Sascha Barboza and her husband, Andrés Eduardo Ordoñez Matos, are the shareholders of this company, which they use to manage funds associated with the influencer’s personal brand.
NutriCorp LLC is another company owned by Sascha Barboza and Andrés Eduardo Ordoñez Matos, this time based in Florida, USA. This company is dedicated to importing, distributing, and selling Sascha Fitness products in the U.S. market, which includes dietary supplements, sportswear, accessories, and books. According to the official website of Sascha Fitness USA, these products are backed by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the regulatory authority for food and drugs in the United States.
Both Waldo Enrique Ordoñez Matheus and Andrés Eduardo Ordoñez Matos are under investigation by Colombian authorities regarding the source of the funds they manage and have invested in marketing Sascha Fitness products in Colombia.
Influencer Sascha Fitness has also faced harsh criticism on social media from users accusing her of being a “fraud.” One of them, Cucalina Robollo, identifies as a Venezuelan Twitter user who has repeatedly exposed the shady dealings of Sascha Fitness’s father-in-law and husband. According to her, the influencer has built her business with money derived from corruption and price gouging in the construction of stadiums in Venezuela.
Cucalina Robollo has also claimed that the influencer has a marriage filled with infidelities and that she only stays with her husband for financial reasons. She claims to possess documents that prove her allegations, which she showed to journalist Angie Pérez, who has also questioned Sascha Fitness.
Another user expressing discontent with Sascha Fitness is Antonino Falcone, who asserts that Sascha Fitness was never a trainer and merely recycles what she reads without formal education or experience. He has also raised concerns about the quality and legality of her products, stating that it was always known that her husband was behind everything and that she emerged from nowhere.
Label Changes
In response to the health alerts issued by Invima, Sascha Fitness has announced adjustments to her product labeling to classify them as food items rather than dietary supplements. According to the marketer, this move comes after Invima changed the requirements for obtaining health registration and asserts that her products previously possessed all necessary permits and registrations for commercialization in Colombia.
However, this explanation has not convinced many users and experts, who have pointed out that the label change is a strategy to evade responsibility and Invima control. They argue that Sascha Fitness products do not meet the quality and safety standards required for food items, which can pose harmful effects to consumer health. Additionally, they have stated that the label changes may cause confusion and deception among the public, as the purported nutritional benefits of the products are still being promoted.
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