Don't Be Duped By Counterfeit Supplements

I haven’t been able to blog in almost three weeks because of a medical mishap. I am going to write about this unfortunate event. Maybe my nightmarish experience will be able to help someone else.

But first I have been very anxious to share with you what I learned about counterfeit supplements, something I knew nothing about. 🤨

During my research on mergers and acquisitions of well-known supplement brands, I stumbled across several websites warning consumers NOT to buy nutritional supplements from Amazon. I became very concerned because I have been buying supplements from Amazon for many years and had several on autoship. So what is wrong with buying supplements from Amazon?!

Apparently Amazon has been battling counterfeiters from third-party sellers for quiet some time. These counterfeit knockoffs were affecting a variety of consumer products, with supplements being one of the most dangerous to unsuspecting consumers. When some supplements were discovered as counterfeits, it became more than just just being duped out of a quality product. This is a life-threatening situation! 😟 Since supplements are an easy target for counterfeit criminals, consumers need to know how to protect themselves.

In recent years Amazon has come under fire for failing to act to stop the sales of counterfeits on it’s site. It wasn’t until two well-known supplement brands, Now Foods and Host Defense, reported counterfeit supplements being sold on Amazon that the e-Commerce mogul addressed the issue. Even then Amazon was criticized for the slow response. This is very concerning! Not only are respectable companies’ reputations on the line so is the well-being of many consumers who have purchased potentially dangerous ingredients. Counterfeit supplements do pose a threat to our health and well-being.

The following have been stated as potential health risks if toxic or allergenic substances are ingested:

Severe allergic reactions from allergens NOT listed on the label, such as soy or gluten
Digestive upsets, some severe
Contamination from bacteria or mold from unsafe handling
Increased risk of toxicity
Fatigue
Interactions with medications from unlabeled supplement ingredients
Heart, kidney, or liver damage

These are some of the dangerous ingredients that have been discovered in counterfeit supplements:

Unlabeled allergens, such as soy, gluten, nuts, shellfish
Sugar in place of active ingredients
Rice powder in place of active ingredients
Cinnamon in place of active ingredients
Synthetic steroids
Pharmaceuticals, such as, antidepressants, Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Sibutramine, amphetamines
Unlabeled talcum powder
Unlabeled gelatin
Laxatives
Unlabeled colors, binders and fillers (chalk)

Here is a list of a few reputable supplement brands that have been affected by counterfeit criminals:

Now Foods
Host Defense/Fungi Perfect
Proctor & Gamble (Align)
Bausch -n- Lomb Preservation AREDS2
Pure Encapsulations
Prevagen
Nature’s MD
Amazon Elements

The discovery of counterfeit supplements being sold on Amazon still appears to be a problem despite efforts to crack down on counterfeiting criminals. A recent study collected 30 immune supplements from Amazon and found only 13 contained the active ingredients labeled. Now Foods tested 11 coQ10 supplements sold on Amazon and none contained what was claimed on the label. In 2023 Amazon’s Brand Protection Report, identified, seized, and disposed of more than 7 million counterfeit products worldwide. This did include products other than supplements.

So when shopping for supplements, how can you tell if the one’s you’ve chosen to buy are authentic?

These are the following guidelines given to avoid dangerous supplements:

Look for signs of tampering or irregularities, such as, broken seals, changes in content’s appearance or smell, past expiration dates, misspellings, and incorrect labelings on the package.
Be aware of products that arrive in small black plastic bags rather than original packaging. This is a red flag! 🚩 Original products don’t use low-quality packaging.
If there is lack of product information or not a return policy, don’t buy!
Purchase supplements only from brand’s website or storefront on Amazon to insure the product is authentic. If a product does not have a storefront, do not buy.
Check brand’s allergen warnings. If a product is allergen-free, familiarize yourself with the brand’s labeling and it’s authorized sellers listed on their website.
Be wary of products with unusually high reviews and extra low prices. This is a red flag!🚩
Look for these common certifications: NSF certification, USP verification, Consumer Lab certification, USDA organic certification, non-GMO project verification, and certified gluten-free.
These third-party certifications can help you identify high-quality, authentic supplements and avoid counterfeit contaminated products.
If there is little to no information about the seller, don’t buy the product.
Check brands for Certificate of Analysis from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory for each of their products.
Genuine supplements have lot numbers, expiration dates, and contact information on the label.
Look for a scannable QR code or third-party testing certification.
Check the supplement’s website for brand’s story, contact information, the supply chain, and a list of authorized seller’s where products are sold.
Check reviews to see if any comments are left about receiving fake products.
Avoid products with exaggerated health claims.
Avoid automatic enrollment in subscription plans.
Carefully examine a supplement’s ingredient list and be wary of supplements with “proprietary blends” that don’t disclose the exact amounts of ingredients used.
Avoid unknown new brands.
Research ingredient sourcing.
Look for unfamiliar, hard-to-pronounce, and suspicious-sounding ingredients.

I know this is a lot to look for in terms of questionable products. These criminals are slick so it is important to consider every possible clue to protect ourselves against them.

So let’s say you have followed the guidelines but somehow you believe you received a counterfeit product. The reason this is a possibility is that when products arrive at Amazon warehouses, all products are mingled together, vetted and not vetted, so the chances of getting a counterfeit product is there regardless of your due diligence. It is also important to know products that are not authorized to be sold on Amazon, such as Trader Joe’s and Costco’s Kirkland Signature brands. If you buy a product from an unauthorized seller, you run the risk of that product being fake.

These are the guidelines given if you discover you bought a counterfeit supplement:

Do not return the counterfeit product to the seller.
Carefully document the details of the counterfeit product, that included taking photos of the packaging, labels, and contents.
Contact the brand manufacturer directly and provide them with the details you documented about their product.
Report the issue to Amazon by going to the link, ”report a problem” on the product page.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
If you experienced any adverse effects report it to the FDA through their safety reporting portal:

http://www.ipr.center.gov/referrel

By reporting fraudulent products you will be helping agencies stop counterfeiting which in turn keeps us all safer.

Additional help can be found here: http://stopfakes.gov

Amazon has provided it’s customers with guidelines on how to shop safely on its platform.

Tips for shopping safely on Amazon:

Read the reviews carefully and be wary of suspiciously high reviews that seem fake.
Never pay for items outside Amazon’s platform. Always complete transactions through Amazon’s secure checkout process.
Research third-party sellers thoroughly before making a purchase. Check the ratings and how long the seller has been selling on Amazon.
Watch our for questionable emails claiming to be Amazon. Check sender’s email address.
Never use a debt card to purchase items on Amazon. Credit cards have better fraud protection.
Enable a two-factor authentication on your Amazon account to add a layer of security.
Use a virtual private network (VPN) when shopping on Amazon to encrypt your internet connection to protect your privacy.
Keep your Amazon account and payment information up-to-date and monitor your statements for any suspicious activity.

Amazon has also devised a few initiatives to detect counterfeit supplements:

Amazon’s Transparency Program was introduced in 2017 to help detect counterfeit products with a 2D barcode. The code is scanned before it is shipped to the customer.
Project Zero started in 2019 that requires brands to register trademarks allowing Amazon to scan and remove questionable products.
Amazon’s Brand Registry is a free program that helps brands protect their property.
Anti-counterfeiting Exchange began in 2023 which shares information about confirmed counterfeits.
Amazon Counterfeit Crimes Unit is a team that works with brands, law enforcement, and other partners to identify and disrupt counterfeiting networks.

By following these guidelines you can protect yourself while shopping on Amazon. It is recommended to avoid buying supplements on Amazon unless you can verify the seller and the product authenticity. Make sure you buy from a reputable brand and purchase products from the product’s official store to ensure you are getting a quality product.

Recently Amazon has tried raise awareness about counterfeit goods and collaborate with other agencies to combat this ongoing issue. Despite their efforts there still is a significant increase in counterfeit products, not just supplements. A Wall Street Journal Investigation revealed that Amazon listed thousands of banned, unsafe, and mislabeled products, including dangerous children’s products.

Through my research I found a list of the best official Amazon Stores for herbs and supplements. This could be a great place to start when looking for safe, reliable vitamin sources on Amazon.

Official Amazon stores for herbs and supplements:

Amy Myers, MD
Ancient Minerals
Bio-Kult
Biocindin Botanicals
Designs for Health
Frontier Co-op
Gaia Herbs
Garden of Life – owned by Nestle’ 🚩
Herb Pharm
Introleran
Klaire Labs
Metagenics
Microbiome Labs
Nordic Naturals
Oregon’s Wild West
Pure Encapsulations – owned by Nestle’ 🚩
Seeking Health
Starwest Botanicals
Thorne Research
Truvani
Wish Garden Herbs
Wise Women Herbals
Mountain Rose Herbs
Pacific Botanicals
Texas Medicinals
The Herbiary
Urban Moonshine

Buying supplements online is very convenient, but can also be very dangerous! So what would be safe buying options? Many consumers have stopped shopping for supplements on Amazon and have turned to other alternatives.

Here is a list of shopping options:

Brick and mortar supplement retailers like Vitamin Shoppe
Directly from the supplement brand’s website
Fullscript
Nootropics Depot
Radiant Life
Xymogen
Natural Grocers
Health Ranger Store
Nourishing the World
The Healthy Home Economist

Other alternatives for online supplement shopping are iHerb, Swanson Vitamins, and eVitamins. Like Amazon, these are large e-commerce retailers. So shopping on these platforms will require the same diligence you use while shopping on Amazon to avoid counterfeit products.

In conclusion, based on my weeks of research, buying supplements on large
e-Commerce platforms is risky business due to counterfeit criminals. Therefore, I believe the safest options for buying supplements online are from the brand’s official website, authorized retailers, or an online store or dispensary recommended by a health professional. If you choose to shop on Amazon or any large e-commerce platform, verify the seller and never buy from a third-party vender.

I hope this information was helpful and not too overwhelming. My next post will be about my medical mishap that delayed my blogging for a few weeks. What a nightmare! Hopefully what I learned from this experience will help others.

Until next time…

Counterfeit Supplements on Amazon Resources:

https://organicconsumers.org/amazon-admits-it-sold-fake-supplements

https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2023/04/14/NOW-alerts-Amazon-to-counterfeit-supplements-on-its-platform

https://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/articles/16097-more-counterfeit-supplement-products-discovered-amazon

https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-fake-supplements

https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/avoid-counterfeit-supplements/counterfeit-supplements

https://solutions4health.com/blogs/research/amazon-and-the-crisis-of-counterfeit-supplements-online

https://wholeisticliving.com/2023/07/26/buying-supplements-on-amazon-and-ebay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv8vYLIGQDs

https://blog.davincilabs.com/blog/what-to-know-before-buying-supplements-online

https://fullscript.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-supplements-are-fake