The healthiest cookies you’ll choose today

Our website uses cookies to collect useful information that lets us and our partners support basic functionality, analyze visitor traffic, deliver a better user experience, and provide ads tailored to your interests. Agreeing to the use of cookies is your choice. Learn more

Decline cookies Accept cookies
Skip to content
Fullscript leaf logo Sign in
Fullscript logo
Fullscript leaf logo
  • Our platform
    • Practitioner software
    • Pricing
    • Integrations
    • Patients on Fullscript
    • Book a demo
  • Learn
    • Spotlight
    • Protocols
    • Wellness blog
    • Practice resources
    • Webinars
    • Ingredient library
    • Practicing virtually
  • Support
    • Practitioner support
    • Patient help
    • Contact us
    • Or chat with us
Sign in Create account
Supplement Ingredients
—

How to Tell if Supplements are Fake: Identifying Genuine and Fake Supplements

March 13, 2023
Fact checked
Written by Jayelah Bush, BScN
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Natacha Montpellier, ND, B.Sc.
  1. Wellness blog
  2. How to Tell if Supplements are Fake: Identifyin...

With so many supplements on the market, quality standards, including accuracy and safety, can vary significantly among supplement manufacturers. Although dietary supplements are regulated in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these regulations don’t define precise quality standards. (1) Whether they contain the wrong botanical species or are impersonating a genuine product, counterfeit supplements can cause illness and influence treatment plan success. 

Keep reading below to learn more about how to tell if supplements are fake and key indicators to look out for.

What are fake supplements?

The FDA doesn’t evaluate dietary supplement labels and ingredients before they’re sold— meaning what’s on the label isn’t always what’s in the bottle. (2)(9) Ensuring that your patients take high-quality, genuine supplements is also important for their safety. Among other concerns, fake supplements may include harmful ingredients or contaminants, such as bacteria. (1)

Fake supplements can appear similar to genuine supplements at first glance but differ significantly in ingredients and quality. Fake supplements may have:

  • Absent or improper active ingredients, such as ginseng leaves instead of roots (4)
  • A chemical substance claiming to be a dietary supplement
  • Impurities and filler ingredients not listed on the label 
  • Packaging that’s impersonating a reputable company (1)

Quality supplement plans in less than a minute

Try Fullscript

Dangers of fake supplements 

Patients rely on practitioners, manufacturers, and retailers for health and supplement information. Fake dietary supplements may be convincingly marketed, have a price tag that attracts consumers, and even be sold at well-known retailers. Unfortunately, these big-box stores and e-commerce sites often don’t have rigorous quality standards for supplements.  (2)(5)

This oversight may expose consumers to potentially harmful chemicals or even banned substances. Fake products may contain mislabeled ingredients, toxic doses, or impurities that can cause illness, such as bacteria or mold. (1) Taking fake health supplements may cause undesirable side effects, such as chest pain, fatigue, or a rash. They can also lead to more severe reactions, such as heart, kidney, or liver damage. (6)(8)(9)

Learn more about supplement quality standards in the United States and Canada. 

how to tell if supplements are fake
Educating your patients about the differences between a genuine and fake product can be helpful during onboarding and check-ups.

Most patients don’t disclose their health supplement use during a medical visit unless specifically asked. (3) Consider inquiring about dietary supplement use on your intake form or when discussing current medications. 

How to tell if supplements are fake 

Identify fake supplements by performing a supplement authenticity check on any products purchased from an unknown or suspicious retail store. Examine any available resources, such as the website, capsule, or bottle. 

1. Consider the retailer 

Large stores and online retailers often have poorly defined quality standards for the supplements they sell. A study using immune supplement products purchased on Amazon found that many supplements were fake. Most of the products analyzed had inaccurate labels and misleading, non-FDA-approved claims. (2)

2. Examine the packaging 

Another way to ensure that supplements are legitimate is to examine the Supplement Facts label and packaging. Look for mistakes, misspelled words, or unfamiliar fonts on the label—this could indicate the supplement is fake. 

Good-quality supplements should have tamper-evident seals, lot numbers, expiration dates, and contact information for the brand. Third parties also certify many reputable products, which can confirm current good manufacturing practices and label claims, such as gluten-free. Newer products may also feature scannable QR codes that bring you directly to the brand’s website.

doctor showing patients how to read a supplement label
Fake supplements are often misleading, using claims such as “100% natural” or “safe” on their label or website. (9)

3. Inspect the supplement 

Fake products often have missing or additional ingredients not listed on the Supplement Facts label. (2) Whether it’s a powder or capsule, examine the supplement for an abnormally pungent smell or irregular texture. A patient taking a counterfeit product may report that the supplement has an unusual smell or bad aftertaste. 

4. Research the brand

A quick web search can further inform whether your patient is taking a genuine dietary supplement. Original supplements typically have a website with a clear brand story highlighting their ingredient sourcing and manufacturing practices. Contact and location information should also be present. Some original brand websites also list which reputable retailers carry their products. 

After your authenticity check, if you believe you’ve found a fake product, report it to the FDA. It’s up to consumers to inform the FDA of a non-compliant brand or retailer so that they can take action. (7)

person holding a supplement in a lab
Reputable dietary supplement brands are transparent about their products, which usually undergo multiple quality checks and rigorous testing.

The bottom line

Fake products are, unfortunately, relatively common and may contain dangerous ingredients that cause adverse effects, such as chest pain. That’s why knowing how to tell if supplements are fake is important. Examining the supplement label, packaging, and retailer can help determine whether a supplement is fake or genuine. If you discover a fake supplement, report your findings to the FDA as soon as possible. 

Learn more about Fullscript’s quality standards and commitment to safe supplements here.

Quality supplement plans in less than a minute

Try Fullscript
References
  1. Brykman, M. C., Streusand Goldman, V., Sarma, N., Oketch-Rabah, H. A., Biswas, D., & Giancaspro, G. I. (2022). What should clinicians know about dietary supplement quality? AMA Journal of Ethics, 24(5), E382–E389.
  2. Crawford, C., Avula, B., Lindsey, A. T., Walter, A., Katragunta, K., Khan, I. A., & Deuster, P. A. (2022). Analysis of select dietary supplement products marketed to support or boost the immune system. JAMA Network Open, 5(8), e2226040.
  3. Guzman, J. R., Paterniti, D. A., Liu, Y., & Tarn, D. M. (2019). Factors related to disclosure and nondisclosure of dietary supplements in primary care, integrative medicine, and naturopathic medicine. Journal of Family Medicine and Disease Prevention, 5(4). 
  4. Ichim, M. C., & de Boer, H. J. (2020). A review of authenticity and authentication of commercial Ginseng herbal medicines and food supplements. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 612071.
  5. Starr, R. R. (2015). Too little, too late: Ineffective regulation of dietary supplements in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 105(3), 478–485.
  6. Tucker, J., Fischer, T., Upjohn, L., Mazzera, D., & Kumar, M. (2018). Unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients included in dietary supplements associated with US Food and Drug Administration warnings. JAMA Network Open, 1(6), e183337.
  7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022a). FDA 101: Dietary supplements. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/fda-101-dietary-supplements 
  8. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022b). How to report a problem with dietary supplements. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/food/dietary-supplements/how-report-problem-dietary-supplements 
  9. US Federal Trade Commission. (2011). Dietary supplements. Consumer Advice. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0261-dietary-supplements 
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Disclaimer

The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Prev Next
Back to main wellness blog page

Get more resources for your practice

Protocols
Practice resources
Ingredient library
Webinars

Share

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Fullscript content philosophy

At Fullscript, we are committed to curating accurate, and reliable educational content for practitioners and patients alike. Our educational offerings cover a broad range of topics related to integrative medicine, such as supplement ingredients, diet, lifestyle, and health conditions.

Medically reviewed by expert practitioners and our internal Integrative Medical Advisory team, all Fullscript content adheres to the following guidelines:

  1. In order to provide unbiased and transparent education, information is based on a research review and obtained from trustworthy sources, such as peer-reviewed articles and government websites. All medical statements are linked to the original reference and all sources of information are disclosed within the article.
  2. Information about supplements is always based on ingredients. No specific products are mentioned or promoted within educational content.
  3. A strict policy against plagiarism is maintained; all our content is unique, curated by our team of writers and editors at Fullscript. Attribution to individual writers and editors is clearly stated in each article.
  4. Resources for patients are intended to be educational and do not replace the relationship between health practitioners and patients. In all content, we clearly recommend that readers refer back to their healthcare practitioners for all health-related questions.
  5. All content is updated on a regular basis to account for new research and industry trends, and the last update date is listed at the top of every article.
  6. Potential conflicts of interest are clearly disclosed.
Read more
Fullscript logo

We're certified carbon-neutral. It's part of our commitment to helping people get better.

Canadian flag - toggles to show canada specific contentCanada
American flag - toggles to show american specific contentUnited States
Product
  • Practitioner software
  • Integrations
  • Pricing
  • Patients
  • Supplement quality
  • Treatment adherence
  • Catalog
  • Wholesale
Company
  • Spotlight
  • About Fullscript
  • Collective
  • Leadership
  • Culture guide
  • Careers
  • Engineering
  • News
Support
  • Practitioner support
  • Patient help
  • Testimonials
  • General FAQ
  • Patient shipping
  • Wholesale shipping

© Fullscript 2023. All rights reserved.

  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Customer Support Policy
  • Acceptable Use Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
Send this to a friend