Many highly placed Herbalife Ltd members have been contacted by US federal law enforcement agencies to know more about their own business practices. It has been reported that the inquiries have been conducted to check the activities of about 10 top Herbalife members. According to CNBC, the company that develops, markets and sells nutrition, weight management and skin-care products globally is providing members assistance in attaining legal counsel.

It is not clear what law enforcement asked for. According to Herbalife, it is helping authorities on requests for information relating to trading of its shares and to its business practices. The company had not commented on CNBC's report about the agencies contacting its top members.

The company that was founded back in 1980 is being investigated by federal and state regulators, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. Hedge fund mogul William Ackman and his Pershing Square Capital Management LP criticized Herbalife.

"(We) are hopeful Ackman's long-term campaign of distortion will be found to be illegal", said Herbalife spokesman Alan Hoffman.

Herbalife employs more than 7,000 people worldwide, and it won the dismissal of a court case that claimed the maker of weight-loss and nutritional products falsely depicted itself as a legitimate company. Products of the company are distributed in 91 countries through a network of about 3.2 million independent distributors. According to CNBC, the identities of the members are also not yet clear.

Products of Herbalife are protein shakes, nutrition, protein snacks, fitness supplements and personal care products. According to the company, it is confident about the integrity of its business practices.