Born in Warsaw, Poland, as a child Lelord Kordel emigrated with his parents to the United States and grew up in Chicago, where his father worked as a baker.

After completion of his Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1930, he worked for two years as a scientific instructor and as a research assistant to the British physician Sir William Arbuthnot-Lane (1931–1932).

He promoted a diet rich in red meats (except pork), fish, poultry, eggs, dairy foods and raw vegetables.

For example, he falsely advertised a herbal tablet, "Gotu Kola", as offering "erect posture, sharp eyes, velvety skin, limbs of splendid proportions, deep chest, firm bodies, gracefully curved hips, flat abdomens and even pleasing laughter.

Whilst president of Detroit Vital Foods, products from the company, "Michigan Brand Korleen Tablets" and "Frutex Fruit Salad" were discovered to be misbranded with false health claims.

Frutex was claimed to be an effective preventive strategy and cure for bleeding gums, sore throat, earache, swollen neck glands, pneumonia, and acute rheumatism.

In the criminal case, both Kordel and Feldten were convicted of having violated provisions of the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and were fined and sentenced to prison.