Buying Health on Amazon: Counterfeit Supplements and Why Source Matters

By Samantha Johnston, Herbalist

 

With more and more people turning to natural solutions for their health goals, the supplement industry is booming. The ease of the internet and accessibility to purchasing supplements that can be delivered right to your door is more convenient than ever. But what are the risks with purchasing from certain retailers?

  E-commerce giants like Amazon and other platforms with third-party resellers come with a high-risk of counterfeit products. There have been numerous cases of counterfeit supplements sold through these websites, including products that are mislabeled, tampered with, or contain potentially toxic or dangerous ingredients. 

  In 2022, researchers from the University of Mississippi and the Uniformed Services University tested 30 immune-supporting supplements bought on Amazon and found that only 13 actually contained what was claimed on the product’s label and nothing else (1). In other words, 57% of the tested supplements bought on Amazon were fake. NOW Foods also conducted a survey using HPLC on eleven different CoQ10 supplements sold on Amazon and found that none of them contained what they claimed and most had extremely low or undetectable levels of CoQ10 (2). 

Here are some tips for making sure your supplement is legit:

  1. Be weary and careful before buying supplements from an unlicensed third-party seller or e-commerce store like Amazon. Make sure you do your research.

  2. If purchasing online, purchase directly from the company or a small (preferably local) business that is licensed with the manufacturer and orders in small quantities. This ensures fresh products and short supply chains. 

  3. If the bottle your supplement comes in looks tampered with, or the capsules look different than usual, or the safety seal is broken, do not use it.

  I'll always encourage you to support our pharmacy when you can, but no matter where you choose to shop, I hope you keep these tips in mind. When it comes to my own health, I choose to purchase supplements from trusted, authorized retailers because I want confidence that they're stored under appropriate conditions, sourced through reliable supply chains, and delivered fresh and authentic. We are a licensed retailer for the supplements we carry. Our collection of supplements has been intentionally curated by a clinical herbalist and pharmacist based on years of experience and firsthand success working with thousands of clients. Not all supplements are created equal. We carry top quality, clean, effective, professional lines that have excellent clinical studies and that we are confident in. You can shop knowing each product comes directly from an authorized source. 

 

References:


  1. JAMA Network Open. Variation in Potency of Low-Cost Generic Coenzyme Q10 Supplements Purchased From Amazon. Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2794987


  1. NOW Foods. NOW Tests CoQ10 & Quercetin Sold on Amazon. Available at: https://www.nowfoods.com/healthy-living/articles/now-tests-coq10-quercetin-sold-amazon


  1. Solutions 4 Health. Amazon and the Crisis of Counterfeit Supplements Online. Available at: https://solutions4health.com/blogs/research/amazon-and-the-crisis-of-counterfeit-supplements-online