Last year, the nonprofit fielded 850, 000 requests for "vegetarian starterkits" packed with recipes like Tofu Tamale Pie and testimonials from celebrity supporters like actress Natalie Portman.
Legitimate MLMs charge a relatively small fee for their starterkits, sell products that are purchased by the ultimate user and normally offer reps refunds for unsold items.
After the disclosure, Rainwater's organization asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to return some of the extensive stockpiles of household goods that had been purchased as "starter kits" for people living in trailers after Hurricane Katrina.