Hi,
If you’re looking for supplement deals on Amazon – you’re at risk for counterfeit products.
The website BiOptimizers noted the following in a 2025 article -“ Trusted companies like NOW and Fungi Perfecti have also reported alarming counterfeit cases. NOW found 11 fake products on Amazon, some containing just rice flour or even trace amounts of Sildenafil (a drug for erectile dysfunction)”.[3]
“Fungi Perfecti uncovered 23 counterfeit Amazon storefronts selling fake Host Defense Mushrooms, some containing allergens like soy and gluten, which could harm sensitive individuals.[4]“
Back in 2019 Amazon was sending out emails warning customers of a counterfeit probiotic, according to an article on wired.com
While I often recommend folks use Fullscript, my trusted source for a plethora of supplements, it’s common for clients to go to Amazon if they need something quickly.
If Amazon is your go-to for supplements – there’s a few guidelines I recommend…
- Make sure you’re buying from the brand store – not a 3rd party store
- If the price is a lot cheaper than what you usually buy it for or drastically different from the brand store’s price – beware
- When you get the product look at the label, the expiration date and inspect the product for smell, if it’s in a gel capsule normally or says gel capsule on the label but you see a regular capsule that’s a red flag
- Investigate “small business” designations on Amazon – if it’s a legit company you will be able to find their website online not just a link to their Amazon store
- When in doubt – go to the website of the company and purchase directly
- Get to know brands that are independently owned and search for podcasts they are on talking about their products (Ex: Healthy Gut Company, Uplifted Naturals, SOS Chemical Free Body, and Troop Mushrooms are just a few)
- Have your supplements custom made (Ex: VitaminLab is my go-to)
You may have noticed there are a lot more influencers on social media pushing certain supplements.
Beware.
I’m pitched daily by companies to become an affiliate and get 20% commission on the products if I promote them.
These companies send you their product to try in exchange for promotion.
I wish I had a machine to test them all.
Most of the time I’m not impressed.
Because supplement “decoding” is such an issue I brought Jared St Clair, 30+ year owner of his family’s supplement store in Utah, on my podcast.
He’s also the host of the Vitality Radio Podcast, where he answers common questions on supplements.
Jared has a wealth of knowledge, has seen the trends since he was a kid in the 70’s when his parents owned the store.
Like me, he’s savvy when it comes to investigating who owns companies, who’s sold out, who’s changed formulas over the years and who’s in it to make a quick buck.
Spoiler alert – many well known supplement companies on shelves of chain vitamin and natural food stores have been bought out by big pharma or big companies.
When you do your homework on your supplements, you’ll find the Amazon, Costco and drug store supplement deals aren’t all they are cracked up to be and contain a lot of toxins.
Supplements can be just as toxic as processed foods and have more additives than the pharmaceuticals you’re trying to avoid.
What’s more maddening is many people try these counterfeit or lower quality products, do not get results – or worse – get sick from them!
Then they swear off trying alternative options for their conditions because they assume it didn’t work or created a side effect.
Frustrating, right?!
Vote with your wallet and become a discerning consumer.
If you’re wanting to dive deeper into what supplements actually have what they say in them and aren’t trying to “toxify” you at the same time, click the link below and listen in to my podcast with Jared St. Clair.
Here’s to being a well informed consumer,
Dr. J
