Were there conflicts of interest or paid endorsements between Dr. Oz and Apex Force in 2023?

1. What the sources confirm: paid ties to iHerb in 2023, ethics questions follow

Reporting by The New York Times documents that in 2023 Dr. Oz “joined iHerb, an online seller of vitamins and supplements, as an adviser and spokesman,” a paid relationship that critics and ethics experts later cited when questioning his independence while taking on government roles ^[1]. That same reporting ties such commercial activity to broader concern that his financial entanglements — especially with supplement companies — could create conflicts if he were to oversee Medicare and Medicaid ^[1].

2. How the coverage frames conflicts of interest

Newspapers and watchdog voices frame Oz’s commercial promotions as potentially problematic because of the scale and nature of the businesses involved; The New York Times reports ethics experts and some lawmakers saying those entanglements “prompted doubts about his independence” and point to payments for endorsements as a source of concern ^[1]. AP and Washington Post pieces included in the set describe his public-facing promotions and past history of product endorsements that feed into those conflict narratives ^{[4] [5]}.

3. Oz’s public stance and the history of disputed endorsements

Oz’s official channels have warned about fake endorsements and urged caution about scammers misusing his name, and his site states he does not endorse brand names on occasion — a recurring tension in coverage ^{[6] [2]}. Fact-checkers and outlets such as PolitiFact note a history of fake ads and social-media misuse of Dr. Oz’s likeness, complicating determinations of what endorsements are genuine versus fraudulent ^[3].

4. No mention in supplied reporting of “Apex Force” connections

Across the provided sources there is no reference to a company called “Apex Force” or any paid endorsement or conflict specifically linking Dr. Oz to that name in 2023. The materials repeatedly cite iHerb and supplement companies more broadly but do not mention Apex Force; therefore, available sources do not mention a Dr. Oz–Apex Force relationship in 2023 ^{[1] [3]}.

5. Competing viewpoints in the record

Some of the supplied material emphasizes real ethical risks from paid promotions (The New York Times, Washington Post), while other content highlights the prevalence of counterfeit or fake endorsements that misuse Oz’s likeness and thus argues for caution before assuming a given commercial claim is authentic ^{[1] [3] [2]}. Advocacy pieces included in the set cast Oz as unfit or conflicted on policy grounds, showcasing political opposition that uses his commercial history as evidence ^[7].

6. What is not answered by these sources

The provided documents do not supply contractual details (amounts paid, exact terms, or who signed agreements) for the iHerb arrangement beyond reporting that he joined as adviser and spokesman in 2023; they also do not provide any record, evidence, or reporting of a paid endorsement involving a firm named Apex Force ^[1]. For proof of payments, invoice records, or direct admissions regarding Apex Force, additional reporting or primary documents would be required — not found in current reporting.

7. Bottom line for readers pursuing the Apex Force question

The factual thread in these sources is clear: Dr. Oz had paid advisory/promotional ties to at least one supplement retailer in 2023 (iHerb), and that relationship contributed to public ethics scrutiny ^[1]. However, the supplied reporting contains no evidence tying him to a company called Apex Force in 2023; therefore, claims asserting a specific Dr. Oz–Apex Force paid endorsement are not supported by the materials provided ^{[1] [3]}.